The Strategic Living Podcast with Brian Holmes: Recent Episodes
Brian Holmes
This message was shared at the 2023 Fall Imagine Conference in Frisco Texas. In it, Brian challenges the listener to know ...
- Who You Are
- What God has Made Available to You
- How To Shatter What is Holding You Back
- How to "Bury Your Dead"
- How to be Unlocked and Unleashed into Your Full Potential
This was a deeply spiritual and powerful presentation, and is sure to minister to you in this season.
We began last week talking about the 4 quadrants or pillars of Leadership.
- Personal leadership
- Family leadership
- Community and civic leadership
- Vocational leadership or influence
In this episode, we look at the importance and power of community involvement, and how your JOB/CAREER positions you for significant influence in the marketplace.
What does it look like for a man, for a woman, for a young person to be engaged in impacting the culture around them? What does it mean to exercise leadership and influence in culture, government, neighborhoods, and the business arena? Let’s explore this together.
Leadership IS influence … and influence is everything. Mine and your ability to impact the world around us is directly proportional to the effectiveness of our leadership.
Leadership, however, is not a linear thing. There are angles and insights and yes, BLIND SPOTS! What we need is a 360° Leadership Approach.
That’s what we are talking about in this session; “The 4 Pillars of Personal Leadership”.
This session represents the first in a new series on Leadership and Strategic Influence. My intention is to challenge you to accept the challenge to LEAD your generation.
You see, I want you to know that the life you are currently living is NOT all you can have. The circumstances taking place in your personal world, and the world around you are the result of someone’s leadership … maybe not your own. Someone has determined that this is where you should be, and because we are all people pleasers in one way or another, we tend to GO ALONG to GET ALONG.
Well I am here today to say that is not going to cut it. It is my desire today to shake you up, and call you out.
In this NEW series, we’re going to look at LEADERSHIP, Influence, and Why the World Needs YOU!
Relationships are dynamic, and we’ve established in our last session that some relationships are not meant to go with you to your next level. In fact, when dealing with relationships, we must understand the season we are in, and where each relationship fits in the overall plan of God for our lives.
Here are some questions we will look at in this episode:
- How do we navigate changes in relationships?
- Are all relationships meant to last for a lifetime?
- What do you do when a relationship is TESTED?
- What do you do when a relationship’s season has come to an end
- How do we steward the transitions in relationships from one level to another.
Today, we look at the inevitable testing and change that WILL come to every relationship, and how you can steward it in a way that produces a positive and Godly result.
This episode is the 3rd in our series on The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living.
So far we’ve looked at Personal Healing and Personal Discovery, and we’ve discovered that EACH cornerstone plays a vital role in the process of building one’s life.
In this episode, I share with you one of my favorite cornerstones ... Personal Development.
There is no personal growth without the intentional process of training, learning, and development. Just ask any athlete, thought leader, singer, or artist. You cannot "get better" without discipline and practice. If you don't "get better", you cannot compete at the highest levels in life. If you don't compete at the highest levels, it is likely you will never reach your maximum potential, and make you greatest impact.
If you study the most successful people in the world, you will find they all have one thing in common; they all are committed to Personal Development.
In this episode, we are talking about this vital key … "The Pursuit of Excellence Through A Lifestyle of Learning"
This is the million dollar question … one that so many never find the answer to.
My premise is that every person is born with a unique and God-given purpose/destiny, and inherently possesses the capacity to realize it in their lifetime. The challenge is that LIFE tends to teach us what we can and can’t have. It systematically conditions us to expect LESS THAN what we were born to achieve. Over time, it regulates the very real possibilities down to an erroneous and limiting mindset.
So What About Discovery?
In order to reclaim our design and destiny, a real life RE-BOOT may be in order This is the process of inventorying and investigating what we have available to us, and re-setting our beliefs and expectations to the FACTS as God knows them.
In this session, we look closely at The Process of Discovery, and how Personal Identity plays a determining factor in our success in every area of life.
We are continuing our series on The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living
In our last session, we looked at the importance of building your life strategically and intentionally, and doing so on a solid foundation
To review, the 4 Cornerstones are:
Personal Healing Personal Discovery Personal Development Personal Deployment
Today, I will share with you "The #1 Key to Unlocking Your Full Potential". Over my many years of coaching, counseling, mentoring, and pastoring, I have found that most individuals find themselves performing at a level below what they are truly capable of, AND, experiencing results in life far beneath what God intended.
Why? There are unreconciled, unresolved areas in their heart and life that must be addressed so that they can be unlocked, unleashed, and unhindered in their pursuit of fulfillment and meaning.
In this episode, we will look at this critical cornerstone called Personal Healing.
This podcast episode is the first in a series of sessions on the "The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living".
In this series, we will introduce you to the concept of Strategic Living. Specifically, we will be looking at how you can build the life you were designed for and want, with the tools you already have. It’s really about setting a solid foundation.
Today, I begin with … A Proven Framework for Building a Life of Impact and Significance.
In my own journey over the last 6 years, I’ve learned a lot about transition. It’s never “easy” and takes some intentionality to navigate successfully.
What I’ve discovered is: there are 4 distinct stages of transition. What are they, and where does your present circumstance fall in with them?
Feature Presentation: The 4 stages of transition are:
- Discontent
- Disconnect
- Reconnaissance (Discovery)
- Re-engagement (Redeployment)
Transition WILL happen in your life, and things will shift significantly more than once.
How do you know if this is about to happen?
It begins with discontent. Discontent does not necessarily mean disgruntled, burned out, or unhappy (though it could). Discontent is the condition where you recognize your present circumstance is no longer satisfying and you’ve hit a ceiling. There’s something pulling on you and you feel there’s something new just beyond the horizon.
There’s an imbalance between being content and desiring more. This is a healthy discontent!
Without discontent, you may lose out on the sense to seek for something greater.
Don’t dismiss your feelings of discontent, but give yourself permission to seek what is waiting for you in your next area of influence.
We’ve talked about where you want to be, what might be preventing you from getting there, what gets you super motivated, and now it’s time to drill down again…
What are you confident about?
Feature Presentation:
What are you confident about? Keep in mind, this has to do with your strengths.
Take an inventory of your competencies, what makes you who you are, and what you have to offer.
This is not an act of arrogance! Until you own who you are, it’s going to be impossible to do your very best.
Your strengths, talents, abilities, and resources all come together to propel you in your purpose. So what are you confident about being able to achieve, or being able to serve others in or with?
We’ve talked about “the question”, and followed up with what keeps you up at night. Those are not necessarily the easiest parts of the planning process to face, but today we’ll focus on something a little more fun.
What are you excited about?
Feature Presentation: What are you confident about? Keep in mind, this has to do with your strengths.
Take an inventory of your competencies, what makes you who you are, and what you have to offer.
This is not an act of arrogance! Until you own who you are, it’s going to be impossible to do your very best.
Your strengths, talents, abilities, and resources all come together to propel you in your purpose. So what are you confident about being able to achieve, or being able to serve others in or with?
Last week, I talked about “the question” – what you need to ask yourself before another day goes by. I also assigned a little homework for you to write out what your desires were in answer to the question, and to map your dreams out on paper. (Did you do it yet?)
This week, I have a follow-up question for you, and it’s more involved than it appears at first glance.
Feature Presentation: What keeps you up at night?
I’m not talking about someone snoring, or the kids getting out of bed. What keeps your mind racing and keeps you restless at night while you’re trying to fall asleep?
It’s important not to dismiss these things as a simple annoyance. There are reasons your sleep is being interfered with!
Anything you’re worried or concerned about, any limiting belief you have – these are roadblocks that are preventing you from reaching the level of success you aspire to achieve.
You need to know – and identify – your obstacles. Only then will you be able to conquer them.
So what keeps you up at night? Take time to write these down and identify them. Realize now, there are answers to these issues. There is no problem before you that is larger than it’s solution.
Any time I take on a new coaching client, I ask them the same question. It may come across with different verbiage, but the underlying meaning is still the same. The question is:
If we were sitting together a certain number of years from now, what has to have happened – both personally and professionally – for you to be really satisfied with the outcome of your life?
Feature Presentation: To be content and fulfilled with the progress you’ve made in life, what needs to take place?
If you don’t have any idea what you’d like your future to look like, or what you want to achieve, it becomes nearly impossible to succeed in that which you have not defined.
Take this exercise seriously in different areas of your life: health, finances, relationships, career. What matters to you, and how can you define what needs to happen in a certain time frame in order to ensure success?
Write the question on a blank piece of paper, and answer it honestly and freely in answer beneath the question.
Once you define in writing – from a sincere, genuine heart-level – what you want your life to look like in the future, it becomes the baseline for the choices you make, the tasks you undertake, and the choices you pursue.
Ask yourself THE QUESTION.
I’m reminded of the time my son was very young and was confident he could drive – and park – my car while we were heading to the building where I officed at the time.
Let’s just say we both learned a valuable lesson that day…
But what does it mean, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears?”
That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in this week’s podcast episode.
Feature Presentation: Even though my son was enthusiastic, he was not mature or prepared for the level of responsibility I chose to impart to him that particular day.
As neither are we sometimes.
We even complain and fuss about our opportunities have not presented themselves to us, but I disagree…
When you’re ready, what you’re waiting for begins to show up! It’s not that the opportunities aren’t there, it’s that you’re not ready.
What knowledge do you need to obtain? What relationships do you need to form (or release)? What is broken in your life that needs to be fixed?
When these are ready, so are we. Therefore, when the student is ready, they see the teacher (and the reward) waiting for them.
Deal with your attitudes, limiting beliefs, unresolved issues, and personal growth, so not only can you handle what’s waiting, but you’re able to run with it and do it well.
What is it in your life you need to be ready for?
And what do you need to do to make ready for it?
Everything in our lives, from the time we’re very young, as we go through school and college, and certainly as we become adults, is a series of the results of choices we’ve made.
Relationships, jobs, careers, and even major purchases – are all choices you’re faced with.
I’m going to share 5 things every person should consider doing when faced with an important decision to be made.
Feature Presentation: 1. SLOW DOWN It might be our instant gratification society, but somehow we’ve programmed ourselves to believe every major decision needs to happen immediately. That is not the case! Slow down, seek counsel, pray about it, and don’t make a decision in haste. 2. SEEK COUNSEL When you’re surrounded by godly, wise people, you’re going to be aided in making the best possible decision. From their experience, knowledge, and care for you, they’ll help you come to the right choice. 3. CONSIDER THE COST Every decision has pros and cons. On the front in, as much as you can, gather data. List out the benefits and the negatives, and see what it will really cost you. What will you gain and what will you have to give up? 4. CHECK THE ALIGNMENT “Who am I? Why am I here?” Make sure to run a check for what you’re doing up against who you are. Does it align internally and externally? 5. PRAY Inquire (from God) as to whether any of these choices you’re faced with have anything to do with the purpose He put you here for. If we’ll ask, He’ll answer, and listen to what He has to say.
These five steps will help you in your decisions, and I know great things are in your future.
As you continue along on your journey to fulfill your purpose and live out who you were created to be, you’ll be faced with an imminent temptation: the temptation to draw back and retreat into what you’ve always known.
Is that a bad thing? Let’s talk about it.
Feature Presentation: When we can’t see where we’re headed or what our next step is – or even if we give way to uncertainty about what’s around the bend – our human nature is to shirk back.
Faith is sometimes a tall order.
As we learn more about who we are, challenge and replace our limiting beliefs, we’re also shifting our methodologies and understanding on certain things we maybe have never seen any other way.
Stepping into more truth and understanding requires us to be accountable to what we know.
Herein lies the danger…
When you know what is true and yet you shirk back from it, you’ve created a deep internal conflict.
This internal conflict has innumerable ramifications: loss of sleep, restless sleep, decline in physical and emotional health, relationships, etc.
Don’t retreat.
Let your “yes” be “yes”!
If you’re in conflict now, no doubt you’re aware of it. For whatever reason, you’ve retreated into familiar. You’re better than that!
Take the steps forward, press in, and don’t settle. Progress over retreat.
One of my favorite places in the US, Lake City, Colorado, is home of The Alpine Loop. This isn’t the safest most secure adventure one can take, so is it worth it to embark to begin with?
Feature Presentation: The trails on Alpine Loop require specially-equipped vehicles to handle the rugged (and treacherous) terrain. To take a trail on the loop can mean you’re driving along a narrow road with a rock wall on one side and a steep cliff drop-off on the other. It requires special equipment, special focus, and special courage to set out and enjoy the adventure.
But why do it if it carries so much risk?
Sometimes in order to reap the benefit or reward of our desires, we have to push through to the other side of the risk involved. We may have to give up control. We may have to trust someone else knows better than we do.
But we have to keep going forward.
That can be challenging – or even downright scary – but it’s the only way to harvest the fruit of your adventure.
Therefore, real adventure requires real faith.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before you “arrive”. You don’t have to overthink – you simply have to say “yes” to the invitation, trust the process (even when it’s out of your control) and remember the adventure.
In this day and age where we’re always moving from one project to another, always connected, and always accessible, it is almost too easy to find yourself exhausted, burned out, lacking energy, and not having much to give.
The concept of Sabbath (rest) has been paramount to the health of the person, family unit, business, and life, from the beginning of history.
For decades now, especially in the western world, we have been conditioned to work hard, sacrifice our family’s and our personal health, all at the altar of productivity and accomplishment.
There is great danger in this.
We are designed to accomplish supernatural things in life; however, we cannot give what we do not possess!
Feature Presentation: It makes sense sometimes to just STOP!
- Stop performing
- Stop running non-stop
- Stop doing things that don’t matter
Evaluate where you are: look at progress, position, and perspective.
Sabbath is taking time to reset and rethink the future from a place of peace and rest, as opposed to making decisions from a place of flurry and busy-ness.
SO WHY AM I SHARING ALL OF THIS WITH YOU?
This summer marks numerous transitions taking place, opportunities to consider, and a very real need for me to focus.
In looking at my calendar, I realized the summer months presented the perfect opportunity for me to take a step back, and give intentional focus to these important things in my life and in my business.
HOW WILL I ACCOMPLISH THIS?
- Doing virtually NO business travel during the remainder of the summer
- No new appointments
- Focusing my work days on thinking and creating
- Taking time to get away and unplug
- Spending time with my wife, kids, and close friends
One more thing:
Starting next week, I am going to publish ONLY ONE podcast episode per week!
This will be the Monday Mastery segment, which will provide high-intensity insight to fill you up for success and influence.
The Monday Mastery videos will post to our site and to YouTube on Mondays, and the audio podcast will post to our site, iTunes, Stitcher, and iHeart Radio on Thursdays.
I am not going away, I am only taking time to get stronger, better, more effective, and more influential.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
- Are you overdue for a Sabbath?
- Do you need to step back and reset?
- Are you stressed out and overwhelmed?
- Are there people in your life who need your time and attention now?
- Are you taking care of you so you can serve and take care of others?
Closing Thoughts: * You have to rest * You need to re-create * You need to refuel * You need to reboot * You need to refresh
When you think of people in your life who have tremendous influence – whether it’s an author of a book you’ve read, a speaker at an event you attended, a sports coach, a personal mentor – take a reflective pause. What if that person, or those people, had never said “yes” to pursuing their calling and impacting your life, and the lives of thousands of others? If you’re not saying yes to your own significance, who are you withholding impact and influence from? Whose life is missing your message?
Our cultural standard of instant gratification can leave us wanting for more than immediate results and ignoring the process by which we obtain them.
If life is a journey, are you paying attention to the value of the road you’re traveling, or are you simply in a hurry to “arrive”?
Sometimes, in order for us to successfully arrive at a new level, there are lessons we need to learn (and apply) along the way.
There is a destination, but the true value is in the process it takes to get you there.
Feature Presentation:
Transition: it’s a big deal and a timely topic!
Over the last six years especially, I have personally come to understand the value of the process of transition.
There are areas of growth, healing, maturing, and understanding I never would have come to except for experiencing the process.
All the while, I was searching for what my “next” was. I was no longer pastoring in the traditional sense (after 27 years!) I was taking it one day at a time, learning, growing, resolving, etc.
Then one day it dawned on me: it was not about the destination, it was about the process!
10 Things To Remember When You Say Yes To Your Next Level: 1. Don’t rush to get to the next place 2. Embrace the process 3. Go deep in exploring your own heart and life 4. Identify deficits, weaknesses, and areas which need to be restored and improved 5. Ask the right questions 6. Surround yourself with people willing to speak the truth to you, even if it hurts 7. Look for opportunities to grow 8. Look for opportunities to learn 9. Look for opportunities to rest 10. Make EACH day the “next step” in the process
Closing Thoughts: * If God has invited you … GO! * If you said YES … let your yes be yes! * Stay focused on today and the process.
You cannot be a hoarder – not of too much physical stuff, not of many experiences, not of much knowledge. If you have been given breakthrough, healing, success, transformation, it would behoove you to pass that on to others as well. Listen in today as Brian unpacks this seemingly simple, yet loaded concept in “To Whom Much Is Given”.
Epic failures in life, although they create pain and difficulty for a season, can be the cornerstones of a life of influence and success.
There is a calling fulfilled by taking something which may have devastated you or your family, a personal failure or loss, an insurmountable tragedy, and using that as a baseline for helping others who may be going through something similar.
Many of you have heard my story.
I saw the vast need in the world: countless others who had been abused, raped, tormented by guilt, entangled with emotional connections they could not seem to shake.
Tens of thousands have found hope and freedom as a result of me sharing my story, and publishing a book which became accessible around the world.
This is also the case of my special guest today!
Rebecca Vijay:
Rebecca Vijay is an author, blogger, editor, and designer. During a career spanning a decade and a half, after working in various industries, while heading a commissioning team in Oxford University Press when she took a break to spend time with her two kids and explore ways to make a difference.
During this break, she started blogging and it reignited her love for writing. In May 2017, she published her first book, My Angel in Heaven, in memory of her firstborn twin son, Jacob. It’s a book about finding comfort and hope in HIM in the midst of the grief.
By the grace of GOD, it was a #1 Amazon bestseller on Amazon US, UK, India and Australia!
She is a contributor to an inspirational book, When You’re DONE Expecting, which has been written by over 100 moms from around the world. (Also a #1 Amazon bestseller in various countries.)
She published her debut YA novel, Break Free, Super Squad Series, Book 1, about four friends with superpowers, in November last year. (Another #1 Amazon bestseller on Amazon India.)
Rebecca likes working with children and the youth and is a Sunday school and VBS teacher. She is also the Vice President of the Women’s Fellowship of her Church and was recently elected as a Pastorate Committee member there.
She is working on starting her own creative services and publishing company that would cater to individuals around the world who would like to self-publish on Amazon and other online platforms. Closing thoughts: EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS IN JUST A FEW DAYS!
Creating and publishing books, audio programs, or even video training courses is not as difficult as you may think.
In fact, with a little coaching and training, you will be empowered with the knowledge, systems, and confidence to make it happen. This one-day workshop is designed to provide you exactly that.
- You’ll learn how to leverage your concept or message for maximum impact and effectiveness
- You’ll learn our proven system for writing, publishing, and marketing your books.
- You’ll learn how to use different forms of media to extend the reach of your difference-making message.
- You will leave the training with a bulletproof plan for becoming a published author
- And so much more!
There are only 50 seats available, and a number of those have already been sold, so you need to secure yours ASAP.
If you have ever considered writing a book, creating an audio program, or launching an online course, this is the opportunity for you.
I am inviting you to make a decision today … a decision to step up, step out, and say YES to the opportunity you have to make an impact.
We’ve become a culture of “I can’t”. For whatever reason, we excuse or talk ourselves out of our possibilities rather than attempting to pursue them. If my own mother can accomplish one of her lifelong dreams at the age of 81, there’s no reason you can’t do the same with your own dream, today. You really have no more excuses!
As life ebbs and flows, there is a great value to be found in those IN-BETWEEN times (transitions).
That being understood, how do we navigate those seasons where we find ourselves in a bit of a funk?
What are the keys to successfully getting on the other side of the darker seasons, and breaking through to your next level?
This is something I have personally been processing the last few months. I am going to share some insights with you that will empower you to focus, reset, and level up in YOUR life and leadership.
Feature Presentation: Review – Transition:
- Discontent
- Disconnect
- Reconnaissance
- Re-engagement
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
- We are creatures of comfort
- We are creatures of habit
- Our beliefs or mindsets govern the outcomes in our lives
These transitional seasons (times of funk) create a real conundrum for us:
- We are discontent presently
- We recognize there is something special waiting for us
- We don’t know what it looks like
- We have to step into the unknown
- The only way is to leave the security of what we know
The Invitation:
It takes faith to step into the unknown, and faith is based in your belief.
Leveling up to a new and higher reality will require you to exercise real faith and trust … to relinquish control.
To HAVE what is on the next level, I have to let GO of what I have come to depend on.
Closing thoughts: * You are at the threshold of something so amazing and so rewarding * You have to make a decision * You cannot have it both ways
James 1:6-8
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Your influence could be at your fingertips. There is an entire world of people who need the message, story, experience you have to share. It is worthwhile, it is important, and it is imperative you take the time to invest in what you know, to help thousands of others in what they need to know. Listen in to find out more.
In 1881, Otto von Bismarck, the conservative minister-president of Prussia, presented a radical idea to the Reichstag: government-run financial support for older members of society. In other words, retirement.
It took eight years after the idea was presented, but by the end of the 1880s, the German government created a retirement system which provided for living citizens over the age of 70.
Since then, the idea that one only works until they reach a qualified age was set in the conscious of our culture.
Corporations, investment companies, insurance programs; all of these are built on the premise that one lives, works, retires, dies.
BUT WHAT IF…?
- What if one could live many years being productive and doing what they were born to do?
- What if it was possible to do what you loved, love what you do, and keep doing it until you couldn’t do it anymore?
- What if doing that could bring joy, change lives, and leave a legacy that will outlive you?
It is possible, and I have seen it!
Feature Presentation: Just a few weeks ago I had the privilege of seeing one of the worlds greatest singers perform here in Dallas. Frank Sinatra referred to this man as the greatest vocalist to ever live.
I am talking about none other than Tony Bennett.
Tony Bennett is 91 years old, and has been singing professionally since early 1946…more than 70 years!
How can someone at his age be SO passionate, SO inspired, SO engaged, and still SO committed to his craft after all these years?
He doesn’t need the money; he doesn’t need the notoriety; he doesn’t need the applause.
So why does he do it?
My Takeaways: 1. This is how I want to live my life 2. When I am old, I want to STILL be doing the thing for which I was born 3. Those who stay in the game, WIN the game 4. Those who quit too early miss the most meaningful rewards 5. Health and strength are directly tied to purpose and meaningful activity 6. Legacy is not about what people remember you for; it’s about the lasting impact you make on those you serve 7. Work is not work when you are in your zone of genius
Tony Bennett is a living example of how to live life, love life, and make an impact on generations.
What about you? Find your passion and purpose and give yourself to it completely.
What you have, what you know, and what you are gifted in are all factors in the exact purpose you were created to fulfill and with benefit to the exact audience you were created to impact. Listen in as Brian shares more about influence, your role in the world, and how to pursue your purpose.
There is nothing that positions you as an authority or expert as effectively as being a published author.
You can launch your message, leverage your authority, and establish your position effectively and efficiently as a published author.
Then, if you choose, you can parlay that message into an expert platform using audio, video, and online systems expanding your reach and changing more lives.
Premise:
- You have a message, a story, and cause that matters
- You are drawn to a certain need or people group, and have something of real value to offer
- You have a desire to write, publish, and produce meaningful content for those you are called to serve
If any or all of these are true, you should be at the Create.Publish.Profit. workshop on June 21st!
Feature Presentation: 7 Reasons Why You Should Attend The Create.Publish.Profit Workshop
- Your difference-making message is important and deserves a place in the printed/digital resource world.
- As your host, I am uniquely qualified to train/coach you in the creation and publishing process.
- Authored 2 books (third is on the way)
- Coached dozens including best sellers
- You will learn my proven system for taking your idea, creating your manuscript, and preparing it for publishing.
- You will learn how to self-publish through the Amazon/CreateSpace platform, and how to submit a proposal for traditional publishing.
- You will meet writers, content developers, cover designers, editors, etc. who I personally work with.
- You will leave the training room having written the thesis and chapter outline for your book.
- Because someone is waiting on you to write and publish it!
When you experience tragedy in your life, it can be a devastating experience for you during that time. It doesn’t, however, have to be the end result of that era of your life. What you’ve experienced and the pain you have gone through becomes your authority in that arena of life and can open more doors than it closed for you. Listen in today for a more in-depth discussion on how your pain IS your authority.
Have you ever considered that YOU have the capacity and potential to change the world or to make a substantive difference in people’s lives?
What does it mean to be a difference-maker?
What does it mean to affect your environment and culture?
That’s exactly what we’re talking about in today’s episode: Salt, Light, and Other Ways to Disrupt the Environment.
Feature Presentation: Our focus carried over from last week is influence.
We must be engaged in activities and causes that foster positive change around us. True transformation will only come when people like us decide to be the change we desire to see.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses some very powerful word pictures to describe our place in this world.
Matthew 5:13-16 The Passion Translation (TPT) “Your lives are like salt among the people. But if you, like salt, become bland, how can your ‘saltiness’ be restored? Flavorless salt is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled on by others. Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”
Salt is an ingredient, which when introduced to any dish, fundamentally changes the flavor of the food.
The environment cannot say to the salt, “I refuse to change”.
Unless the salt has lost its potency or unique value and quality…
In which case it will become good for nothing, and be walked all over by those who have asserted their agenda to bear.
How About The Light?
There is no darkness powerful enough to overcome light.
What’s the point of being light if you’re going to keep it hidden from the people who so desperately need it?
If you have a message or an answer that can light the path for someone, why would you not share it?
Light only has value if it is intentionally set up where people can see it
Salt only has value if it can be utilized to change an environment or situation.
You have the capacity to radically change your world.
If you think about it, both SALT and LIGHT are environment disruptors. That is what YOU are.
You know God has created you for greatness. You see the needs and hurts of people around you. You have something to offer!
You cannot give what you do not have. When you lack experience, your opinions don’t carry weight. But when you take what you’ve been through, what you know from your own experience, and what you’ve spent your life doing, and share that with the rest of the world, you present tangible, worthwhile solutions that won’t simply fix problems, but change the world! Listen in to find out more.
Have you ever considered YOU have the ability and potential to change the world or to make a substantive difference in people’s lives?
What does it mean to be a difference-maker?
What does it mean to affect your environment and culture?
Today we’re going to answer this question: What’s The Big Deal About Influence Anyway?
Feature Presentation: Let’s Start with a Primer on the 7 Spheres of Cultural Influence
They are:
- Religion
- Family
- Government
- Education
- Arts/Entertainment
- Media/Communication
- Business/Financial Sector
Family: Consider the groups that have shaped this area in the last 10 years. The term family has been completely re-defined, laws changed, gender neutralized, etc.
How did this happen? INFLUENCE
Government: Think about the current news, and how our nations are being transformed before our eyes. Principles and values that were the foundations for our culture have been eroded the point of no return.
How? INFLUENCE
Education: Many of our academic institutions are no longer laboratories for the development of potential. Rather, they have become the programming centers for contingencies of people hell-bent on erasing history and changing our cultural DNA.
Again … INFLUENCE
Arts/Entertainment: Hollywood, Broadway, the music industry, sports industry, and even the online entertainment space have become cesspools of filth, activism, and agenda based programming. You cannot turn on a device without being told what to believe, how to think, what to wear, etc.
Again … INFLUENCE
Media/Communication: Consider the news media, social media, and the thousands of pundits beaming their noise into every nook and cranny of our day.
Again … INFLUENCE
Business/Finance: The entire world revolves around business, commerce, money, and market share. We need Godly, principle-centered business owners, board members, and entrepreneurs guiding and leading our nation.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see WHY our world is in such a mess.
It is simply a matter of influence.
SO, WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL ABOUT INFLUENCE?
The big deal is that America, and other nations around the world, are in desperate need of great leaders, strong influencers, men and women of character and strength to STAND UP, take our place, and make a difference.
The very problems you complain about and grieve over are the problems YOU are called to and capable of solving.
You just have to get in the game!
I get asked nearly every week if people should take what they know and put it into book form. My answer to them is really another question: do you have a message to share? If the answer is “yes”, then so is my answer! Write the book! Listen to today’s episode to find out more about what writing a book can do, why you should consider it, and how to get started.
So much of what I do, teach, and communicate is built on a framework that I call The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living.
Anytime you want to build something that stands the test of time, you must first engineer and construct a foundation worth of the thing you propose to build on it.
So many people are pursuing their goals and dreams without having taken the time to inspect, or possibly re-engineer the foundation.
Feature Presentation: A while back, I had the honor of being a guest on one of my dear friend’s podcast, and we went deep on this subject
Ray Edwards is the founder of Ray Edwards International, and is a renowned expert in marketing, copywriting, and has authored numerous books, including his soon to be released book entitled “Permission to Prosper”, which I highly recommend.
RayEdwards.com Ray is one of the wisest, most insightful people I know, and this conversation was really clear and powerful.
I wanted to share that conversation with you today. Let’s go now to my interview on the Ray Edwards show.
Show Snippets: * Living strategically takes purpose and intent a step further. * Unresolved or unreconciled issues create a ceiling on our ability to maximize our God-given potential. * Personal healing is the chief cornerstone * Who am I and why am I here? * Focus on what you’ve discovered as a framework for who you are, why you’re here, and develop that person. * This is a life-long cyclical process! * Deployment is seasonal. * Deployment is the fourth cornerstone, not the first cornerstone. * Promotion and elevation are also cyclical and seasonal.
Grab the 4 Cornerstones book and course HERE
We are, from the time we are very young, conditioned to blend in and fit in with the masses. Don’t let yourself be discouraged from being unique and rising above the average and ordinary. You don’t have to be like everyone else to be successful. Listen in to learn more.
Over the last several weeks we have been looking at the impact relationships have, and as we’ve seen, relationships matter!
It’s important we understand the season we’re in, and where each relationship fits in with our progress and development.
Here are a few questions to consider;
- What is life outside of relationships?
- How do we classify or categorize our relationships?
- Do relationships change in seasons of our lives?
- How do we navigate relationships when conflict or tests come?
Today, we’re going to be looking at these questions and talking about Relationships, Resources, and the Rhythm of Real Progress.
Feature Presentation: GOD DID NOT CREATE US TO DO LIFE ALONE!
A great mentor and friend shared with me a very powerful concept some years ago. He said
You only need two things to succeed in life; Relationships and Resources. If you have to choose between the two, choose relationships, and they will lead you to the resources you need.
We are designed by God to have meaningful connections, relationships, and to interface with other people in order to add value and receive value
Categories of Relationships
- Family
- Mentors, Teachers, Spiritual Leaders
- Friends and Peers
- Workplace Relationships
- Casual Acquaintances
The Circle Test:
- Self – Know who you are
- Family – wife, children, mother, father, siblings, etc.
- Close friends – HOW CLOSE ARE THEY REALLY?
- Acquaintances/Tribe
- The Crowd
The key is how do you define these levels.
- Friend
- Acquaintance
- Tribe
- Crowd
- Enemy
- Enemies/Fool
For your consideration:
- Some relationships are for certain SEASONS. When that season has come to an end, it is not wise to continue to invest into the relationship, as you will drain yourself of the very resources
- Some relationships are covenantal in nature and are sent by God to be LIFETIME relationships
- Some relationships are SITUATIONAL such as business relationships, educational, etc. Most times, these are also temporary
- Some relationships are STRATEGIC, and they have to do with your assignment in a particular season
- All (healthy) relationships are given by God to be mutually beneficial, and for the common good
QUESTIONS:
- Have you inventoried your relationships lately?
- Are there people in your life that do NOT add value, but rather tale away from you?
- Are there relationships in your life that need to be “moved” from one category to another?
- Do you have room in your life for NEW, STRATEGIC relationships that could add value to your life in this new season?
Jim Rohn said … “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”.
What are you doing to raise your average?
We all have our comfort zones and we all enjoy being comfortable. But what if our love for comfort is actually hindering us from the unlimited potential or possibilities, that could take us to our next level and beyond? Once we get too comfortable, we talk ourselves out of doing anything more. Listen in while I share why this is detrimental!
We’ve been talking for a few weeks now on relationships, doing life together, and the power of changing cultures.
WHO you have around you matters: who you allow to speak into your life, who you work for or with, your friends and associates – they all matter.
If you want to build a life of high impact and meaningful influence, you are going to need to make sure you are connecting with people who align.
Today, I have Val Kleppen sitting in with us to talk about how these concepts and realities have shaped our business, her life, and now her own business endeavors as she launches out to make her mark.
This is one you don’t want to miss!
Feature Presentation: I am thrilled to be able to have my executive assistant, Val Kleppen, on the program today as we talk about the importance of different relationships in different areas of our working together, and in her own business and life endeavors as well.
About Val Kleppen:
Val is not only a virtual assistant to fantastic clients but has a dream to change households across the country by teaching other people how to obtain their own freedoms in working from home. She has launched a course to train others to build their own business as a virtual assistant, in an effort to make home the center of day to day life.
She is a wife, speaker, self-proclaimed homesteader, homeschooling mom, and freelance writer.
Interested in her Virtual Assistant Training? Visit here: AnchorVAnetwork.com
For more about Harlynn’s Heart, visit their Facebook page
Strategic Influencers Mastermind: CLICK HERE
You have more control than you might realize. If you don’t like your situations or relationships or circumstances, you can make a decision, follow with consistent action, and change whatever it is you’re unhappy with. Don’t believe me? Tune in to find out more.
Feature Presentation: Very few ideas remain relevant for more than one generation, as innovation and technology are advancing at such a rapid pace.
The Bible and its principles, on the other hand, still influence people and nations thousands of years after their Genesis.
While there are many reasons why this may be, there is one I am certain has played a major part in its continued influence:
Relationships
How do we reverse engineer the success and power of this movement that has influenced our world for generations?
What are the key components factored into the longevity of this movement?
What practices can we identify as being responsible for transforming cultures and shaping societies?
Four Practices: 1. Learning 2. Fellowship (Doing Life Together) 3. Dining/Breaking Bread with Others 4. Communion with God (Prayer/Worship)
Jim Rohn says you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Are you increasing your average value or is that value issuing a negative return? You need mentors, friends, influencers, who can come alongside you and help you grow from your current level to the next higher, better, more influential level in your life. Do you have those people yet? Listen in to find out more.
Our world is changing at a pace that is mind-bending at best, and in some cases, troubling.
Gone are the days of knowing your neighbors, kids playing together in the streets, and families doing real life with one another.
Even if you do sit down to eat together with a group, everyone is on their smart phones, engaging someone who is NOT present in the moment.
We have lost something very sacred.
If you are like me, you are hungry for change; longing for the days where life was shared, not segregated.
We can change it!
Tips, Tools, And Resources: ONE CONVERSATION: * Have one person at the table “host” the dinner * Instead of everyone chatting it up with whomever, pose a question, and everyone have one conversation around that question. * Example: What is the most impactful book you have read recently? Why? How has it impacted you personally?
Be intentional. This will change your relationships.
Feature Presentation: The good ol’ days when…
- Families cooked out together
- We were in and out of each others homes all the time
- If someone was sick, everyone pitched in to help
- Most people were church-goers, and those church people were our extended family
- We shared the joys, pain, challenges, and even losses of these people
Nowadays, it is different.
Everyone is isolated, segregated, going different directions, consumed with self-interests, and so on.
There’s no community IN the home.
There’s no community with others OUTSIDE the home.
WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?
The Bible teaches us that we are NOT designed to do this thing called LIFE, alone.
The answer is … let’s try something different!
It would be presumptuous of me to put forward a guaranteed, fix-all, non-negotiable solution to such an overwhelming issue, however …
I would like to invite you to consider a few things we can do as we begin exploring what it really means to DO LIFE TOGETHER.
- Be honest with yourself; are you isolated or alone?
- If so, are you willing to do something different, even if it is initially difficult or uncomfortable?
- Do you know anyone else who is probably hungry for the same thing?
- Invite one or more families over to your home for a meal and fellowship (CALL THEM … no texting)
- Set ground rules for the evening
- TV is turned off … period
- All phones on silent; NO social media or texting
-
One conversation (Books, inspiration, other)
-
No politics or current events
- You model what heart-level sharing looks like
- Invite them to share
- Encourage, comfort, share resources (you don’t have to have an answer for everything)
-
Play games
-
Be present
- Stop texting for 30 days; instead, CALL and talk to people
- No Facebook for 30 days
- Eliminate pretense and live honestly with family and friends
If you’re unhappy with where you live or where you’re working, or some other situation in your life, would you believe me if I said a new result existed on the other side of you making another choice? Different life circumstances come by us making different choices from what we’ve been making along the way. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but sometimes we overthink it. Tune in to find out what I mean.
Have you ever gone to a conference, a seminar, a workshop or training program expecting one thing, but came away with an even better experience than you expected?
In my case, not only did I get exactly what I expected by way of the training I signed up for, but was fundamentally blown away by the culture, the mindset, the environment, and the level of excellence on display.
I came away from my weekend with (at least) 5 things I really want to share with you today.
These 5 things will set you or your business apart, hands down.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: * End your workday by taking 5-10 minutes for positive focus * List out the day’s wins; what you did right; what you did that was good; the progress you made * Pat yourself on the back. * Talk to yourself * Intentionally focus your mind on the measured success you had that day.
This will change your life … I promise!
Feature Presentation: What I saw at this company two weeks ago embodies so many of the principles we promote here on BrianHolmes.com
Delta Defense, LLC, headquartered in West Bend, has been recognized as one of America’s fastest growing companies.
In addition to the INC 5000 award, Delta Defense has been honored for the past three years as one of the top 15 fastest-growing companies in the state of Wisconsin.
My Experience * Arrival and Greeting * Preparation and Presentation * Immaculate facilities * Kind and helpful staff * Started on time (every time) * Genuinely engaged with guests and true desire to relate * Excellence, excellence, excellence * So much more
5 Big Takeaways From My Recent Visit To One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies 1. Mission matters When you are clear on who you are, why you are here, and what your mission is, you can run hard and run confidently toward the realization of that mission.
- Culture is created
Early on, Tim Schmidt and his team decided to build a different kind of company; one that reflected a culture of family, support, personal growth, fun, and excellence.
Everyone has a voice and a contribution
- Values are contagious
Ask any employee and they will tell you, “We are Honest, Humble, Happy, Hungry, and Healthy”.
-
Growth (both personal and corporate) is a choice
-
Library
- Owner buys books for entire staff
- Brings in trainers and speakers
- Company Dream Board
-
Committed to one another’s success and growth
-
Action and accountability produce results
It’s not enough to have an idea or even state something as a goal or project. One must execute rapidly, systematically, decisively and fearlessly, and hold each other responsible to achieve those goals.
I am deeply grateful for Tim Schmidt, Delta Defense, the USCCA, and the incredible team of people who served our group so well.
Influencers Challenge: Whether you are a solo-preneur, small business owner, pastor, non-profit director, or in some other position of influence and leadership, these 5 things apply to you.
- Mission matters
- Culture is created
- Values are contagious
- Growth (both personal and corporate) is a choice
- Action and accountability produce results
Full speed ahead may seem like the most progressive and productive path, but burnout is sure to follow. The valley is your pathway from one mountain top to another, and the rest and restoration you receive there is invaluable. Remember the vision from the mountain top to keep you moving through the valley, taking advantage of what it has to offer you as you pass through. Tune in today to find out more.
"Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” ~ John Maxwell
If anything in life is certain, it’s the fact things are going to change.
Are you cooperating with change, making right choices, and as a result, growing into your next level?
Life always changes around us, but we do not always change internally as a result, and therefore, do not leverage the external change.
Are you growing to be the person you are capable of being or are you simply accommodating the changes happening all around you?
Feature Presentation: Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. ~ James 4:17 (NASB) Our Creator put certain laws in place which govern the universe, and one of those laws is the Law of Growth.
- “Living things grow, and growing things change.”
- If something stops changing and growing, it acquires a new status altogether – dead.
- History has recorded so many examples of how change comes, yet people (or organizations) still refuse to grow into the change.
Let’s Talk About You
- You have engaged change over the course of your life (and this year) but have you grown personally, mentally, academically, emotionally, spiritually, practically?
- Are you engaging the change on the basis of the same old you?
- Are you simply adapting to the change in an effort to try and survive, OR …
- Are you identifying areas in your own life where you need to grow in order to leverage and maximize the new opportunities?
What was excellent on the previous level is mediocre (at best) on the next level.
LIFE will constantly be in motion around you. Changes will take place in every sector of your world and opportunities will present themselves. The next level is available to you, without a doubt.
You cannot perform at a level you have not grown into.
Influencer’s Challenge: 5 Things You Can Do To Grow Your Life, Leadership, and Opportunity:
- Know yourself
- Identify strategic areas where growth is needed
- Enroll in a learning program or discipline
- Check your relationships
- Submit yourself to a legitimate accountability system
Life has its own ebb and flow, as do relationships, our creativity, etc. Every peak and every valley in the ebb and flow of life has a significant purpose. The highs and the lows all serve our future. Don’t believe me? Tune in today to find out more.
"We are what we repeatedly DO. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a HABIT”. ~ Aristotle
Habits become second nature in our lives and behave and act out of habit.
Our habits produce results, but are they the results we were after? Perhaps you are you currently locked into habits that are keeping you from achieving your very best life.
You use routines to add value and move you forward OR to inhibit your progress and success.
You can make changes to bring about the results you desire by implementing habits, rituals, and routines.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: There are THREE primary tools I use to guarantee I stay on track and on point with my habits and rituals:
- Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner http://fullfocusplanner.com
- Evernote https://evernote.com
- The 30/30 App http://bit.ly/1lg36K7
Feature Presentation: Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. ~ James 4:17 (NASB) Humans tend to do the same things over and over again without even thinking about it.
Examples:
* What we eat
* Spending money
* Veg in front of the TVThe life you desire can be attained if you are willing to examine your habits!
* What do you want?
* What area of your life do you desire to see change?
* What are your present habits?The same is true of our routines. There are 5 steps I recommend for making the difference in your life you desire to make:
1. Answer the question “What Do I Want?”
2. Examine your current beliefs and habits.
3. Identify: What new beliefs and/or habits can you develop and live that will move the needle?
4. Commit: Make a commitment to yourself to do this action every day/week, etc for 90 days.
5. Establish Rituals and RoutinesA ritual is nothing more than an act or series of acts done in a particular situation and in the same way each time. Rituals and routines, when properly structured, give us a track to run on, especially while we are working to for new habits.
The key to make it a lasting routine is to make it something you do over and over again in the same way. Doing this forms our pattern of behaviors into habits. Habits, then, create the outcomes we want in our lives.
Influencer’s Challenge: My Challenge:
What new habits will you form TODAY that will change your future?
The fuel you put in your engine will determine the result and manner for which you arrive at (or in the direction of) your success and calling. If you’re fueling your mind with garbage, you’re going to create garbage as a result. Make sure you’re putting the right fuels into your heart, soul, and mind, so the outcome will be desirable and effective.
He’s a recent connection of mine, but a dear connection I’m grateful to have made, nonetheless.
Listen in on this powerful conversation I had with Dale (in studio!) about transformational leadership, what it means, and how it changes your life and the lives of those around you.
More About Dale: Dale’s passion is to help business leaders live with heart, integrity, and significance.
Dale’s diverse background began in the technology world with a BS degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin. After several years of technical work, he progressed into management, then consulting, then leading consultants, and finally executive management, at companies from startups to multi-nationals.
Becoming a born-again believer mid-way through that journey and being mentored by a business executive, Dale saw the integration of faith and work as an inspired and necessary goal.
The meteoric rise of a technology startup where Dale was the Executive Vice President in the early 2000’s brought success for a while, but the equally spectacular implosion due to poor team dynamics sent Dale on a quest to understand teamwork and leadership.
Dale has read, studied, and trained with the best. Dale was able to put that training to good use a few years later when he sold a multi-million dollar Managed Services engagement at a large energy company, displacing the entrenched incumbent. Dale built the team, which has been in place for over a decade even though Dale has not been involved with them for several years.
While this story was unfolding, Dale has served in the church as a life group leader, study group facilitator, deacon, and head usher. Dale has also served on mission trips to Costa Rica and on various boards and committees.
In early 2011, Dale started bringing these somewhat separate faith/work threads closer together by becoming a Certified Professional Life (2013) and Leadership (2016) Coach through the Professional Christian Coaching Institute (PCCI). Since mid-2011, Dale has been coaching business leaders around issues of heart, integrity, and significance.
God has given Dale the gifts, talents, insight, and experience to facilitate diverse groups of business leaders while integrating faith and work issues. Dale is single and lives in McKinney Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas.
For more information on Dale’s coaching and access to special discounts, visit coachdale.com/brian.
What is your vision? What do you see for yourself, for your future, for your legacy? What is the life source of this vision you hold? Vision is not future-tense. It’s seeing your future in the present. Have I lost you yet? Tune in and find out more about the significance of what it means to See It Forward.
The status quo is the greatest enemy of success and fulfillment because average is easy, and normal doesn’t require anything of you.
When we get locked into the rut called “normal”, we begin to see the world through the eyes of limited possibility. The rut becomes our routine, and we lock into a second-nature functionality that cripples our ability to dream, to engage, to explore.
I am here today to challenge everything you have come to believe as normal and to tell you to Get Off Your “BUT” and Make A Difference!
Feature Presentation: Remember the story in the Bible where the leaders of Israel sent spies into the land of promise to do a little reconnaissance and check out the place?
12 men sent in to scope out the possibilities, the benefits, the prosperity, and the joy that awaited them (and the Giants).
Here is the part of the story that gets me – –
They come back to the leaders and give their report.
The promised land was:
- Amazing
- Over the moon
- Opportunistic
- When you plant a seed there and you expect an ordinary return, you wind up with 10X results
- WOW!
Then the “BUT” was introduced … (Numbers 13:28)
- BUT … We can’t access that (walls)
- BUT … It’s too good for us
- BUT … Giants – people standing in the way of us having it
- BUT … Compared to “THEM” we are little insects
Two of the spies (Joshua and Caleb) intervened trying to convince the people WE CAN DO THIS!
BUT … they weren’t having it.
They settled for the wilderness while standing at the doorway of the possibility.
Here’s the worst part.
That entire generation DIED without ever realizing their dreams, destinies, purposes, or making their impact.
Why?
Because their “BUTS” got in the way.
All of us have “BUTS”.
Until you can get off your BUTS, you will never rise to the level of your design.
What are your BUTS?
- I’m not talented enough
- I don’t have the kind of resources others have
- The people in that space won’t accept me and my message
- What do I have that can help someone else
- There are too many obstacles I may have to overcome in order to make my mark
- My family doesn’t believe in me
- My pastor won’t sanction or encourage me in this
- People won’t understand
You have a difference-making message on the inside of you, and it is time to say yes to the possibilities.
- YES, there will be obstacles
- YES, you will have to grow and learn
- YES, you will face challenges and problems
- YES, it’s scary
- YES, it’s unfamiliar
- YES, it’s new
When you engage the possibilities, wonderful things happen. Get off your “BUTS”, and go make a difference in the world!
Influencer’s Challenge:
My Challenge:
If you’re ready to leverage your message and wisdom and make a greater impact, NOW is the time!
Don’t wait … Take action now:
BrianHolmes.com/MaximumImpact
Leveraging your experience is no small feat – but it isn’t impossible, no matter how inexperienced you may feel. Develop your passion-based business as we’ll walk step-by-step through the process, what you have to offer, what it takes to get it out there, and set you on the path to successfully get your message in front of the people who need it most. It’s only a week and a half away!
“Does my life really matter?”
“Does the work I am doing matter?”
“Am I living to work, or am I working to LIVE?”
“When I am gone, will my work have made a difference?”
“Do I love my work, or am I living for a paycheck?”
Here is another way of looking at it:
Am I engaged in activity that produces fulfillment, joy, and prosperity, AND, am I making an impact on other’s lives and the world at large?
…am I doing work that really matters?
Feature Presentation:
Something is stirring in the hearts of so many people right now. It is a desire to not just work for the sake of work, but to do work that truly matters.
Here’s the lie you’ve been told:
- Go to college
- Get a degree
- Get a job
- Make a “living”
- Provide for your family
- Save for retirement
- Retire at 65
- Play golf, knit sweaters, and sit on the front porch until you die.
This is not God’s plan for your life!
Most people live their entire lives working to earn a paycheck or to survive.
What if, rather than trading your life for a token, you could invest your time, talent, resources, and greatness for the reward of making a lasting difference?
What if you could get PAID to do something that mattered?
What if your LIFE and your WORK could make a difference, and IMPACT a lasting, generational mark?
No matter what age you may be, I am challenging you to consider this question:
Are you doing work that simply allows you to maintain the mediocre and the status quo, or are you ALL IN on doing work that really matters?
Are you doing what is in your heart to do?
Are you living the life and pursuing the things for which God has created you?
Are you in the game, or are you on the sideline?
Are you doing work that really matters?
Here is the bottom line:
The choice is yours.
You can sit back and wait for something to come to you, OR, you can get off the sidelines and achieve YOUR maximum impact.
Fear is paralyzing and debilitating and is the #1 inhibitor, keeping people from doing what they want to do. People – you and I – are afraid of failure. We all desire – and expect – success on the first attempt, though rarely is that ever the case. Failure is built into success! Conquer your fear and do things scared. Tune in today to find out more.
Since my early twenties, I’ve been involved in some form of personal or leadership development role, whether teaching, pastoring, consulting, coaching, training, podcasting, etc.
This has taken me all over the world and has allowed me to meet people from all backgrounds, all walks of life, all kinds of philosophies and all different paradigms.
There is ONE THING remaining consistent across the breadth and scope of my experience:
“There is something on the inside of every individual that desires to matter, to make a difference, to leave the world a better place”.
Every person has a TRUE NORTH; a first love; a passion, a cause, a message that they deeply believe in, and love to talk about.
Today, we’re going to show you how you can Leverage Your Passion, Communicate With Confidence, and Achieve Maximum Impact.
Feature Presentation: In 2018, I am launching a new endeavor in our Personal/Business/Leadership Development Training Series.
Over the course of this year, I will be offering a number of LIVE training opportunities here in DFW.
These will come in the form of:
- 1-Day Workshops
- 3-Day Intensive Bootcamps
- Immersive Training programs
- Exclusive Group Coaching Events
The overarching objective is simple:
Train, develop, and empower influencers for Maximum Impact.
As you are aware, we approach all of our training on the basis of the 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living
- Personal Healing
- Personal Discovery
- Personal Development
- Personal Deployment
That leads me to our FIRST 1-Day Workshop of 2018.
On Thursday, February 22nd, I will be teaching you how to Maximize Your Message and Make A Greater Impact.
You will learn how to:
- see your unique value in the world
- align with your God-given passion and purpose
- find your voice and core (difference-making) message
- identify the people who need your message and determine where they are gathered
- make preparation easy and your presentations unforgettable
- understand the business side of training and speaking
- build your strategic plan for crafting your message and launching your communication platform
- and more!
How do you take your passion – things that resonate with you on a powerful, heart-level – and turn it into your driving mission, your platform, and to expand your purpose in life? There are countless examples of businesses being formed to serve the people their owner is passionate about. Tune in to find out how to leverage your passion and experience to engage the impact you are capable of making.
efore you ever existed, there was a plan already in place for your life, AND, you were engineered and wired to make a powerful and specific difference in a targeted, specific arena.
Last week we talked about identifying what deeply moves you, excites you, angers you, or even breaks your heart.
I’m driving home the idea you are created, uniquely designed, and specifically wired to make a difference in this world.
Perhaps you’ve already identified your passion or cause, and you want to share it strategically to make a maximum impact for others.
Now what?
Today we’re taking a deeper look into how to find your voice and deliver your message effectively and confidently.
Feature Presentation: Finding Your Voice
The convergence of your unique wiring and deep passion brings about the possibility of a real mission, a real purpose, a course of action you can take in order to make what is on the inside of you really count. But will you take that course of action?
Hesitancies are born out of:
- Lack of confidence
- Fear
- Deep insecurity
- Don’t know how to speak or deliver a message
- Don’t know how to find the people who want to listen
How have we become so programmed to believe that the very thing we are BORN to do is unattainable?
Here is the greater issue …
The people we are called to serve with OUR MESSAGE are not getting the help, support, or information they desperately desire because we have yet to engage our calling in life.
In our upcoming WORKSHOP, we’re going to take time to help those who attend to get past the hang-ups, find their voice, and absolutely get in the game!
Delivering Your Message
It is widely stated one of the greatest fears most people have is public speaking.
Here’s a dirty little secret: Most of the great communicators, spokespersons, advocates, and leaders you admire and respect are just as normal, unassuming, and down to earth as YOU are.
They will tell you that their early presentations and speeches were terrible.
Here is the DIFFERENCE: Their passion, pain, and their recognition of the needs of others were stronger than their fear, insecurities, or lack of confidence.
What About The Technical Stuff?
Things like:
- Defining and clarifying your core message
- Techniques for preparation and delivery
- How to book yourself as a speaker or trainer
- How to connect with your audience and command a room
Here is the bottom line:
Your message is important.
Your voice needs to be heard.
You can (and must) make a difference in the area and with the people you’ve been called to serve.
It’s not enough to simply have a passion.
YOU are the difference maker!
You are uniquely qualified, and you are READY to take your cause, your message, your passion to the world.
Over the years, I’ve learned everyone has a passion and message within them, but most struggle with how to share it effectively. Discovering your message begins with discovering what brings light and life to your eyes when you talk about it. It’s about finding the people, topics, or causes you’re most moved by. Do you have any idea what message or messages you have within?
There are certain things we are uniquely wired to care about, be moved by, or even be consumed with.
It’s in our DNA to take interest in certain things. We were born with internal guidance that pulls us toward those interests by default.
Today, we’re going to really explore those things you are naturally drawn to and deeply care about, and discuss how these things are an indication of who you are, and why you are here.
Feature Presentation: Examples of indicators of our message and high-impact calling we have on our lives:
- What makes us laugh
- Things we love to do
- Things we love to talk about
- Things that make us happy, excited, or motivated
- Things that make us sad, angry, or even broken-hearted
EXAMPLES:
- Home Schooling
- Gaming
- Airplane Maintenance
- Personal development
- Work-from-home
- Essential Oils
- Health and Wellness
- Entrepreneurship
- Coaching
- Leadership and training
- Philanthropy and charity work
- Missions
- Widows and Orphans
- Pregnant Teenagers
- Single moms
- People in need of mentors
- Sex/human trafficking
- Malnourishment or sickness in developing world nations
- Battered women
- Evangelism or Discipleship
What Lights You Up?
What Moves you Deeply?
What Breaks Your Heart?
What keeps you up at night?
Don’t minimize the awareness you have of the things that make you come alive.
Now is the time to discover and embrace the higher purpose for which you were created.
There is more to life than doing the same thing everyone else is doing, for the same reasons everyone else is doing them. Tune in to this powerful Monday Mastery episode where we talk about unlocking passions, finding purpose, and fulfilling big dreams. What you love to talk about, what you love to do, what you love to engage in, is your launching pad. Start there, and propel forward!
Watch the video or download and listen to our audio file as well. Join us every Monday for a new Monday Mastery Edition of our Strategic Leader podcast, and every Thursday (beginning again in September) for a new in-depth episode.
Consider the possibility you are carrying an idea, a solution, or a life-changing message someone else is waiting to hear.
While I won’t get into the science of how the mind works, I will tell you we tend to dial our truth and possibilities DOWN to the level of our internal belief structures.
Today, I want to start at the beginning.
I want to start with you! What is YOUR unique value in the world?
Is it really possible to channel your passions, interests, experience, and wisdom into meaningful work?
This episode will explore this very question in great detail.
Feature Presentation: God installed in the prophet Jeremiah everything he (Jeremiah) needed to succeed in life and make a difference in his world.
Remember these principles:
- Before you arrived on earth, there was a plan and a purpose with your name on it.
- There is a specific people group or demographic with a particular problem, challenge, question, or need which you are called to serve.
- You are uniquely wired and equipped to make a difference in that arena; to make an impact which truly changes lives.
- You were born to make an impact and change the world!
Who Am I, and Why Am I Here?
This is the million dollar question and is one so many never find a satisfactory answer to.
The challenge is life tends to teach us what we can and can’t have, and systematically conditions us to expect less than what we were born to achieve.
What About Discovery?
5 Key Parts to the Discovery Process:
- Understand your wiring
- Understand your strengths
- Identify your core values
- Clarify and cultivate your vision
- Strategic planning and execution
Other questions to consider:
- How do I go about getting in touch with this divine purpose and life calling?
- How do I get past the limiting beliefs and fully embrace the cause, mission, passion, and message that makes me fully alive?
- How can I break free from the idea my work and meaning are exclusive, and the two should never meet?
Where can I go to get help?
- Hire a personal coach
- Take online profiles for personality, strengths, values
- Do a personal vision retreat
- Take time to know YOU
- Come to our one-day workshop!
New year, new chances, new possibilities, but what do you see happening in the upcoming weeks and months? After closing the door on our past (did you catch last week’s episode?), we need to start with a blank piece of a paper and a beginner’s mind. We need to start with the dreams and the ideas and without limitations or doubts. Tune in today to find out more!
Watch the video or download and listen to our audio file as well. Join us every Monday for a new Monday Mastery Edition of our Strategic Leader podcast, and every Thursday (beginning again in September) for a new in-depth episode.
It’s a new year and a new beginning. A new opportunity awaits you!
The status quo is no longer satisfying and the time to shift gears and engage your life’s potential is NOW!
I’m alive and encouraged today. There’s something in the air. It feels like a fresh start. I’m glad to have you with us in 2018.
Let’s see what the New Year holds for us!
Feature Presentation: With a new beginning comes the opportunity to design something without prejudice, without limitations, without someone saying, “We’ve never done it that way before.”
Let me ask you a few questions as we begin the new year:
- What dreams or plans have you given up on or dismissed as being impossible or unreachable?
- What deeply inspired ideas have you talked about, contemplated, maybe even begun to act on, but eventually filed them away because of “reality”?
- What if you could write your own story – a new and promising story – with nothing of your past having the power to stop you. What would that story be?
- If you were to design your “perfect life” or your “perfect year” or even your “perfect day” what would it look like?
- If you could travel anywhere you wanted to travel, where would it be?
- If you could work in a field or area you had passion for, what would it be?
I pose these as questions, but really, they are all possibilities.
- You can choose your own path.
- You get to design it.
- You decide who, what, when, where, and how.
It is a new day. You have been given a fresh opportunity to create, to engage, to live, and to lead.
“A blank piece of paper and a beginners mind.” As you will hear more about in the coming weeks, you have a message, a cause, a lane you are created to run in.
There are people waiting on YOU to get in the game, make your voice heard, offer you expertise and your wisdom, and make a difference in their world.
It is time for you to make YOUR impact.
No more excuses.
It’s officially a new calendar year, and traditionally that carries a lot of fresh possibilities. Listen in as we talk about new beginnings, what that means, and how to get started. Most of all, it begins with first closing a door on your past.
This is a special surprise (bonus) episode. I told you last week that we would not have another one until after the first of the year, BUT, I wanted to bring you a short word of encouragement as you round out 2017.
I’m honored to have you with us. Let’s get started!
Feature Presentation:
Encouragement:
- Celebrate this year’s moments
- Take responsibility for yourself (Fess it and fix it)
- Resolve and Reconcile – ‘Let It Go’
- Check Your Head – Be ruthless with unbelief and negativity
- The Habit of Gratefulness – Be thankful (make a list)
- Do a relationship inventory
- Commit to personal growth (reading, habits, rituals, development of your leadership and influence)
- Decide … “What Do I Want?”
- Decide … “What am I willing to change to have it?”
- Open your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit’s leadership
As you finish out these last few days of the old year, I want to challenge you to take time to reflect, consider, and imagine.
Your best days are still ahead of you.
God has great plans for your life.
You are a leader and influencer; destined to make a massive impact in your world.
Believe It!
Christmas day is a special one, and for more than the gifts under the tree or what we exchange, or what our traditions are each year. Listen in to this special edition message and from all of us at Brianholmes.com to you – have a very, merry Christmas.
It’s Christmas week all over the world.
There is no better time than now to reflect, regroup, reset, and be renewed.
On this episode especially, I want us to consider the blessing of Christmas, what it really means, and look to a wonderful, hope-filled future.
It’s not about gifts, toys, vacations, or gadgets. Both Christmas and the future ahead are about the ultimate gift the world has ever been given.
Feature Presentation: LUKE 2: This is a timeless story.
While the world has evolved and the story has become less of a focus in so many places, it is still the greatest story ever told. It was Jesus’ coming which provided us our opportunities.
It is imperative we consider the reason we can pursue our dreams, our hopes. It is important that we recognize the source from which all of our meaningful ideas and contributions originate.
Life has a way of consuming us; completely and totally overwhelming us and demanding our attention.
Each time I have taken the time to PAUSE, I am amazed at how much more of God’s creation I become aware of.
There is BEAUTY everywhere, but can you see it?
There are blessings abounding, but are you too busy to notice?
The Bible says “Be STILL and know that I Am God”
What would life be like if we made the PAUSE a part of our daily discipline?
My Christmas encouragement to you is …. PAUSE
No matter what 2017 has been like for you; know this …
- God’s plans for your life are sure
- You have a hope
- You have a future
- Your future is bigger and brighter than your past
- As difficult as things may have been or may still BE, you are blessed, capable, and worthy of realizing the tomorrows God has given you.
As another year draws to a close, we may be beating ourselves up for all we set out to do and never accomplished. If your attitude is right, however, and you’ve got worthwhile ideas to pursue, you’re not out of the running yet! Listen in today for more ideas on how to finish the year strong and set your sights on next year being your best year ever!
It’s that time of the year.
We’re all thinking about how we can do better, achieve more, grow our business, and expand our impact in a new year.
Obviously, there are many things one can do to accomplish their goals and objectives.
On today’s program, I want to discuss one such strategy that has proven to be priceless in my own journey.
What about you? Are you interested in learning how you can 10X your life and influence?
Tips, Tools, And Resources: AUDIBLE
- One of my favorite ways to consume books and programs is AUDIBLE.COM.
- I listen to business, personal development, motivational, biographical, and leadership content every day.
- We have partnered with Audible to bring you something really special!
- 30 Day FREE Trial
- Start the New Year NOW. Begin feeding your mind.
AudibleTrial.com/strategicliving
Feature Presentation: THE ONE FACTOR THAT IS GUARANTEED TO 10X YOUR LIFE IS …
Having Strategic Relationships That Add Value and Safety
What Is A Mastermind?
- Mastermind groups offer a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen your business and personal skills.
- A mastermind group helps you and your mastermind group members achieve success.
- Participants challenge each other to set powerful goals, and more importantly, to accomplish them.
- The group requires commitment, confidentiality, willingness to both give and receive advice and ideas, and support each other with total honesty, respect and compassion.
- Mastermind group members act as catalysts for growth, devil’s advocates, and supportive colleagues.
- The concept of the “mastermind alliance” was formally introduced by Napoleon Hill in his timeless classic, “Think And Grow Rich,” though mastermind groups have been around since the beginning of time.
- Even Benjamin Franklin belonged to such a group, which he called a Junto.
What A Mastermind is NOT
- It’s not a class.
- It’s not group coaching.
- It’s not a networking group.
The Benefits of Belonging to a Mastermind Group
- Your mastermind partners give you feedback, help you brainstorm new possibilities.
- The mastermind provides accountability structures that keep you focused and on track.
- You create a community of supportive colleagues who brainstorm together to move the members to new heights.
- You’ll gain tremendous insights which improve your business and personal life.
- Your mastermind group is like having a objective board of directors, a success team, and a peer advisory group, all rolled into one.
The Strategic Influencers Mastermind What are we looking for?
- You have a burning desire to elevate your life and leadership.
- You’re working full time on your business or are close to making that move.
- You recognize your need to have others speak into your life and situation,
- You are committed to adding value to others in the group
- You are able to commit to a weekly online mastermind group meeting.
- You are willing and able to commit to attending 2-3 “in-person” meetings each calendar year.
- You are able and willing to invest financially in your mastermind membership
(More information and guidelines will be provided to you in your personal interview)
Weekly (Online) Meetings
Our primary, and most consistent method for meeting is online. The wonderful thing about this is that you can be anywhere you want as long as you have a quality internet connection. Your geographical location is not important, but your presence on the video conference is.
Each week we meet on the same day and at the same time. We use a well-respected and dependable service called ZOOM.
In-Person Intensives
We will conduct 3 in-person meetings each calendar year. The format of these will vary from meeting to meeting, however, they are a very different experience than our weekly calls.
Each LIVE meeting will consist of 2 days of training, processes, and high level mastermind exercises designed to generate a 10X outcome in your life, business, ministry, or mission. Each member will have extensive “hotseat” time, and will leave the meeting with a strategy and actionable plan.
My Experience in Masterminds
For the last several years I have participated in TWO mastermind groups. I cannot express the impact these have had on my life, my business, and my relationships.
- I have experienced a significant pivot in my personal leadership.
- My business has transitioned to a broader reaching model, and is impacting 30X the nunber of people each month.
- I have built relationships and been granted access to mentors and leaders in my field of work.
- My ROI has easily exceeded 10X my personal investment in this process.
This is not a marketing ploy to get people into a course. I’m looking to grow my businesses in a co-operative environment and also share my knowledge and experience with those who are ready to take their life and their leadership to the next level.
If you want more information on this incredible opportunity, go to …
BrianHolmes.com/mastermind NOTE:
- There is an application and interview process.
- Not everyone will be accepted.
- Also, this is a PAID mastermind group.
- There is a substantial investment for membership in the SIMM group.
Again, If you want more information on this incredible opportunity, go to …
BrianHolmes.com/mastermind We look forward to having you join us on the NEXT LEVEL!
Ask yourself these important, pointed questions to determine if what you’re pursuing is worth your time, energy, and resources. These five questions have helped me gauge the important pursuits and table the fluff, and I know they’ll help you discover what your next best strategy will be. Tune in today and find out more about the litmus test you need to keep in mind.
My guest today is someone that shares my passion for helping people discover their purpose, develop their message, and launch them into a meaningful expression of serving others.
This marks our 300th episode and I wanted to use this opportunity to share something that will apply to many of you.
I have invited Dr. Michael Hudson back on the program with us. (He was on Episode #135.) I love bringing people on who can speak life into your leadership growth and your personal and professional pursuits.
Dr. Michael Hudson is a dear friend of mine, a great resource, and someone I have been doing life with for several years. He’s a teacher, speaker, writer, facilitator, corporate trainer, coach, and ideapreneur.
Listen intently today. We are talking to you!
Feature Presentation: Dr. Michael Hudson helps people discover their vision, write their story, and speak their vision into existence using his provenVisionSpeaker™ System .
Visit 52SpeakerSecrets.com to download your free copy of Michael’s ebook filled with practical insights you can use to increase your impact every time you speak. You can also find more about him on his webpage:
MichaelHudson.com Takeaways: * Most people, even (and especially) if they desire to share their story, cite communication as a major issue in their work and in their lives. * Sharing your message has far more impact on those you influence than you realize – but only if you share it! * Our ability to have impact, influence, and income, comes in large part by our ability to leverage our past experiences. * The first place we have to get our message heard is in our own brain. * Who loses out if you don’t show up? * “That which is obvious to you is often amazing to others.” * Don’t discount the positive stuff in life. * Mark your calendars for an event in Dallas February 22nd, 2018, and stay tuned for more details forthcoming.
Even if what you’re agreeing to is a great opportunity, the fact remains when you say yes to one thing, you’re saying no to one (or many) other thing(s). Is this something you should be aware of? Does it matter? How can you discern from the things you should be involved with versus things you should pass by? Tune in today to find out more!
There are people in this world who, frankly, do not have reasonable values, morals, or lifestyles, yet they succeed, prosper, and impact their environment with tremendous effectiveness.
How does this happen?
Simple. There are laws at work which transcend my opinion or stance on certain things.
If a person abides by certain principles and executes on those principles and laws, they will reap the rewards of those principles.
It’s so important for those of us who do have high standards, values, etc. to be influencing those around us, and succeeding in what we do and how we live. Therefore, we also must adopt, follow, and execute on certain principles!
Today, I want to share a few principles and factors which are paramount to success.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: Say It, Mail It App
Have you ever been driving when you have an awesome idea, or maybe you’re in the gym when you think of a task you need to relay to your assistant?
How do you communicate these ideas or delegations safely and in ONE STEP?
Enter the SAY IT, MAIL IT app.
This app is a lifesaver! Rather than trying to type a text or a reminder while driving, simply record and send!
BrianHolmes.com/sayitapp
Feature Presentation: 12 Elements That Dictate Success:
-
Spiritual Connectedness
- This is the baseline for all success
-
Self-awareness
- Identity, values, personality, strengths, etc.
-
Core Beliefs
- What do you believe about the areas of your life?
-
Mission/Cause
- What is your big why?
-
Desire to Serve Others
- “Always make your contribution bigger than your reward.” ~ Dan Sullivan
-
Vision
- Can you see and plan for your future?
-
Goals and Plan
- Strategic planning (and documentation) is a must.
-
Discipline and Systems
- Be the master of your time.
-
Relationships
- Find, and keep, the right people around you.
-
Accountability
- Who do you answer to?
-
Determination and Follow Through
- Finish what you start.
-
Self-care
- If you don’t take care of you, you cannot care for anyone or anything else.
Dreaming versus doing goes well beyond a motivational call to action – it’s a MUST if we are ever going to live the lives we plan to. Your creativity, your capacity, and your talents all come in to play if – and only if – you put them to work to make your dream a reality. Once you do this, watch the results and the rewards begin to roll in. Listen in as I unpack this more today.
There are few things in life that will make a greater difference or affect change like thanksgiving and gratitude.
If you want to change a relationship, a conversation, an atmosphere or environment, or even your own outlook on a situation, express love and gratitude!
It’s Thanksgiving here, and today, I want to challenge you to shift your life and your leadership. Ready to see what I mean?
Thanksgiving: It really is a formula for a better world!
Tips, Tools, And Resources: * Daily Journal! + What 10 things are you grateful for each day? * You will fundamentally change your life and see your circumstances differently if you do this exercise every day!
Feature Presentation: 7 Categories In Which To Focus On Being Grateful:
- Relationship with God
- Health (Physical and Mental)
- Family
- Friends
- Provision/Finances
- Freedom
- Opportunity
Use This As A Starting Place:
(Psalm 103)
- I am thankful FIRST to God because He is God
- He is the One who created me
- He is the One who leads me
- I am HIS possession (the sheep of His pasture)
- He loves me
- He is ever faithful toward me
- He pardons all my iniquities
- Heals all my diseases
- Redeems me from the pit
- Crowns me with loving-kindness and compassion
- Satisfies my years with good things
- My youth is renewed like the eagle
- He performs righteous deeds and judgments
- He is compassionate towards me
- He is gracious towards me
- He is slow to anger and abounds in love
I am so thankful for so much – and I am thankful for YOU!
Sharing a few nuggets of wisdom (from experience) during this special week, and special edition of our Monday Mastery. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
So many people find themselves stuck, disillusioned, unmotivated, and prematurely giving up on their dreams.
Why is this?
Think about this before we answer that: do you measure your success against the progress you’ve made, or against the perfect ideal you have in mind for it to eventually be? Your answer could be your hurdle.
It is all about staying out of the GAP! That’s what we’re talking about in this week’s episode.
Tips, Tools, And Resources:
- You may not want everyone having your personal cell phone number
- Get your own business line
- Calls routed to your cell phone or the cell of someone else
- You select your business hours
- You know when it is a business call inbound
- Answer or send to voicemail
- Multiple extensions/voicemails
- Fax included
- Text included
- Multiple lines each account
- A fraction of the cost of traditional business line systems
I have been using Grasshopper for more than 5 years, and could not run my business without it!
Find out more at … BrianHolmes.com/grasshopper
Feature Presentation: IDEAL:
- PICTURE or VISION of a possible future
- It does not exist outside of our minds
- As you move toward it, it moves further away
- The IDEAL is our perception of PERFECTION
ACTUALS:
- These represent our actual achievements, accomplishments, and state in life
- You embark on this journey, and you do so from a starting point … a beginning
- Each goal you achieve along the way represents a new current reality
Here is where the breakdown happens
- I leave my starting point with specific goals in mind
- My sense of value and accomplishment goes flying out of the window as I see myself through the eyes of having fallen short of perfection … again.
This thrusts us into a deeply negative attitude and mindset:
- Failure
- Frustration
- Low Self-esteem
- Guilt/Shame
- Depression
- Disappointment
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
A BETTER WAY
- What if you measured yourself against PROGRESS instead?
- What if, instead of comparing where you are with where you ultimately WANT to be, you compare where you are against where you have COME FROM?
- Doing this keeps you in a POSITIVE mental and spiritual attitude and state
- Success
- Satisfaction
- Confidence
- High Self-esteem
- Optimism
- Enjoyment and Fulfillment
- Motivation and Energy
- Abundance and Joy
How Do We Do This?
- You become intentional about having a positive focus
- Every day, you celebrate the WINS and the PROGRESS you have made
- You choose to focus on what you DID get done
Retrain your brain, and get out of the GAP, once and for all.
You’ve heard it said “practice makes perfect”, but is that only true in the world of entertainment? Let’s take a look at how rehearsing our vision and giving performance life to the dreams we hold may be the one step we’ve been missing in connecting to our future. Tune in today and find out more about what it really means to rehearse in preparation for your big break.
We’re continuing our discussion on The Lens of Grace with my dear friend, Scott Prickett. He’s back in the studio this week as we close out our second part of this two-part interview.
I am so grateful to have Scott in the studio for this timely and powerful topic of discussion.
We are talking about his newest book, and how you can begin seeing life through the lens of grace.
I’m honored to have you with us – let’s get started!
Feature Presentation: About Scott:
Scott sometimes says he went from practicing law to practicing grace, but that’s too simple to describe the journey. Scott has been a middle manager, tank commander, business owner and practicing attorney. He often says the education he picked up along the way was better than any of the degrees he earned.
Scott seeks to invest in people to facilitate their Kingdom purpose beyond the walls of a church. He wants to equip and release people in their identity, purpose and ability to raise others to do the same.
Scott will tell you he is likely one of the more non-traditional pastors you will come across but not for the sake of being edgy. He deeply believes the relationship God wants with us and for us with each other is real and raw and completely transparent. That means the polite, religious veil we sometimes opt for is sacrificed for the life that is available in authentic relationship.
Scott was raised in church, rebelled and raised “a bunch of hell” for many years, then was ruined by the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Scott says about his relationship with Jesus, “He wrecked me and I have never been the same since.”
Currently, Scott serves as the Executive Director of Fellowship Of The Sword and as an elder and pastor at Heritage Community Church.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: Scott’s Book: Abundant and Free: Seeing Life Through the Lens of Grace Visit ScottPrickett.com for more on Scott!
In last week’s Monday Mastery, we discussed the importance of writing down your goals. This critical practice, however, cannot stop there. In order for us to seal our commitment to our dreams, we must also – daily – read and review them. Consistently reminding ourselves of our possibility and potential consistently pushes us to make it happen. By reviewing our goals (morning and night) and making it a solidified part of our routine, I promise you, it will change your life.
How do you see yourself? How you see YOU is a really big deal. How you view others in your life determines the quality of relationships and outcomes you have.
Today, I am incredibly excited to introduce you to one of my closest friends: Scott Prickett.
We are talking about his newest book, and how you can begin seeing life through the lens of grace.
I’m honored to have you with us – now let’s get started!
Feature Presentation: About Scott:
Scott sometimes says he went from practicing law to practicing grace, but that’s too simple to describe the journey. Scott has been a middle manager, tank commander, business owner and practicing attorney. He often says the education he picked up along the way was better than any of the degrees he earned.
Scott seeks to invest in people to facilitate their Kingdom purpose beyond the walls of a church. He wants to equip and release people in their identity, purpose and ability to raise others to do the same.
Scott will tell you he is likely one of the more non-traditional pastors you will come across but not for the sake of being edgy. He deeply believes the relationship God wants with us and for us with each other is real and raw and completely transparent. That means the polite, religious veil we sometimes opt for is sacrificed for the life that is available in authentic relationship.
Scott was raised in church, rebelled and raised “a bunch of hell” for many years, then was ruined by the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Scott says about his relationship with Jesus, “He wrecked me and I have never been the same since.”
Currently, Scott serves as the Executive Director of Fellowship Of The Sword and as an elder and pastor at Heritage Community Church.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: Scott’s Book: Abundant and Free: Seeing Life Through the Lens of Grace Visit ScottPrickett.com for more on Scott!
Write the vision and make it plain… Do those words sound familiar? Even in today’s digital age, there is tremendous and effective power in physically writing down our dreams, visions, goals, and ideas. The power of writing it down is so often untapped, and today I’m going to explain the importance of taking that extra step. Put your ideas and goals on paper, and see how it transforms the process of making it happen.
Are you comfortable? If your answer was yes, I want you to pay close attention to the program today. We’re going to challenge you to really look at your life, potential, and progress.
There is no doubt life deals circumstances and situations we did not ask for or deserve.
If you’ve lived any length of time, you’ve no doubt experienced one or more things that set you back, brought you great pain, or at the very least, slowed you down for a bit.
There are times in our lives when we are presented with opportunities to overcome, to reset, to re-evaluate.
STUFF will happen. The question is, “How Will You Respond”?
I want you to find encouragement and hope as we talk about not settling for something meant to be temporary.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: Speed Dial 2
Have you ever thought, “I wish there was some way for me to have an app-like dashboard for my most frequently visited websites”?
Enter SPEED DIAL 2.
I open my browser and instantly see graphical dashboard with ALL my most important websites.
This is a crazy time saver, and a real joy to use.
If you spend any time online, and if you use Google Chrome Browser, check out SpeedDial2 at https://speeddial2.com/
Feature Presentation: Things to Consider:
- Nothing is final
- No state or condition is permanent
- No setback defines your future
- Only YOU determine what that looks like
- If you accept a present condition as evidence of your identity or value, you sentence yourself to live in that condition forever
- If you rightly assess the condition or state as a temporary and unwelcome thing, you the have the capacity to see your way out of it
- Be careful not to accept abnormal as normal
- Lazy people settle for abnormal
- It is easier to settle than it is to challenge your limiting beliefs and the pain that sold them to you
- Forgive the people
- Assess what got you here
- Seek wise counsel in your situation
- Create a plan
- Execute on that plan
- Commit to the LONG HAUL
- Make up your mind that WHERE YOU ARE TODAY is not where you are going.
- This current circumstance does not define you
- DON’T SETTLE for something that was meant to make you better
- Your life; your future; your best depends on you seeing yourself beyond your current state.
Whether you’re reading books, newspapers, or magazines, watching television or videos, or listening to radio or other programs, what you’re taking in is going to set the gravitational pull to which you develop a mindset and focus in. Take control of your focus, take control of your attitude and your thought process, and start steering yourself toward the positively possible. Tune in today to find out more.
Never before, in my lifetime, have I seen our nation – or the world – so divided, so anxious, so completely hell-bent on perpetuating hatred, bigotry, and partisan pontification.
We are faced with one of the great dilemmas in human history. This level of divisiveness and tension has the potential to destroy life as we know it.
What will we do?
What can we do?
How do we stop the bleeding, and begin the healing?
I want to tackle this on today’s program, because here is what I know: A House Divided Cannot Stand.
Feature Presentation: This topic is a heavy one, and to provide a noteworthy, detailed summary would not serve any justice to the content covered – but I want you to have talking points from this episode.
Over the last few years or so, our world has become increasingly divided, if not toxic.
As the ancient scriptures predicted, we are seeing:
- Brother against brother
- Nation against nation
- Race against race
- Gender wars
- Political parties against political parties
- Generational gaps and conflicts
- Ideologies and doctrines creating separation and strife
- Church groups reviling other church groups
- And so on
Are you familiar with the story of Abraham Lincoln’s address? (Discussed in episode)
A house divided against itself, CANNOT STAND.
So what is the alternative? Unity? Uniformity? Political correctness? Moral compromise?
The Problems: * Satan – steal, kill, destroy * Media, Powers, Systems of this world * The strategy: divide and conquer * Constant barrage of programming and digital engagement * Hatred, bigotry, an absence of God’s love
The Solution: * Righteousness exalts a nation * Perfect love casts out all fear * The power of kindness and love * YOU! * Your leadership
We’re unpacking the final of 12 factors that determine success, which is self-care. Over the last few months, we’ve pulled back the curtain on these factors of success, and how they help us build the life we always knew we were capable of living. This final factor may be the last one we mention, but is certainly not of least importance. You cannot expect to put your best foot forward to help anyone else if you’re not taking care of you. Tune in today to find out more.
Are you comfortable? If your answer was yes, I want you to pay close attention to the program today. We’re going to challenge you to really look at your life, potential, and progress.
If your answer is no, do you have any idea why you’re uncomfortable, or how to navigate through it? We’re going to challenge you to really look at your life, potential, and progress.
Today I’m going to challenge you to really look at your life, potential, and progress.
If you’re ready to take your life, your leadership, your business, and your influence to another level, you’re in the right place.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: The Ties That Bind
In 2004, I taught a 6-part seminar called “The Ties That Bind – Identifying and Breaking Unhealthy Connections and Soul Ties.” Never could I have anticipated the response it would receive, nor was I prepared for the far-reaching impact it would have.
In 2007, I published my first book, The Ties That Bind. Since that time, thousands of individuals from all walks of life have read it, experienced it, and been transformed by the truths contained within.
This comprehensive teaching is more than just another good read. It is a proven PROCESS that, when followed, has led thousands of people all over the world to receive deep personal healing, reconcile their past, disconnect from unhealthy and limiting factors, and walk forward in freedom and confidence.
FOR A VERY LIMITED TIME, AND ONLY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST …
This book normally sells for $12.00, but right now, you can receive your own copy for 50% off the normal price.
I have 200 copies available at this price ($6.00 + S&H)
There is NO LIMIT on the number of copies you can purchase, BUT, when they are gone, they are GONE!
Find out more at BrianHolmes.com/ties50
Feature Presentation: Sam Chand’s Formula:
Growth = Change Change = Loss Loss = Pain THEREFORE Growth = Pain
- In order to GROW, one must be willing to change.
- In order to change, one must be willing to let go of some things that are no longer serving them
- Loss is painful.
- We do not like pain.
- We also do not like being stretched.
- Why?
- Stretching creates pressure
- Pressure creates stress
- Stress causes us to worry or question
- Worry and fear paralyze us
- Why?
- We prefer comfort; peace; safety; the familiar.
We talk about comfort zones, so what are they?
- A comfort zone is a limited area of perception and association wherein the individual or group can function effectively without experiencing uneasiness or fear; a limited defined physical or psychological area in which a person feels at ease; self-regulating mechanism; anxiety arousal control.
- In my terms, a comfort zone is an invisible bubble we create for ourselves for one of several reasons; we feel safe; we feel we belong there; we feel we deserve to be there, etc.
“Discomfort brings engagement and change. Discomfort means you’re doing something that others were unlikely to do, because they’re hiding out in the comfortable zone. When your uncomfortable actions lead to success, the organization rewards you and brings you back for more.” – Seth Godin
Creating a New Normal
- The only way to create a new normal is to challenge the old one
- RE-SET the thermostat (or regulator) [your beliefs]
- RAISE the standard to which you will regulate
- Dismantle the comfort zones by intentionally addressing those beliefs, mindsets, and fears holding you in place
- Redefine what NORMAL is by first creating an out of order state in relation to what has been normal
- CHALLENGE the regulator, and create a new target
REMEMBER – ALL GROWTH REQUIRES CHANGE!
Therefore, if you want more opportunity, more business, more influence, more money, or just MORE OUT OF LIFE …
You must break free from the COMFORT trap!
- It is killing your dreams
- It is killing your hope
- It is killing your joy
- It is killing your motivation and drive
- It is killing your potential
- It is robbing you of results and outcomes you are more than capable of realizing
Your COMFORT is killing you!
We’re unpacking the 11th of 12 factors that determine success, which is determination and follow through. A lot of us find ourselves determined to start things, but lacking when it comes to following through to completion. Don’t let perfection take precedence over progress. Press through. Finish what you started. Use the same determination that allowed you to start with such enthusiasm, to overcome resistance and see you through to the end!
Few things are more constant than change. Change is inevitable. Anything living is in a constant state of change because when movement stops, life ceases.
On today’s episode, I want to talk to you about change, seasons, transition, and why it is imperative we recognize our season and steward it well.
We’re talking about Seasons, Segues, and the Strategic Shifting of Priorities and Focus.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: Get A Coach
- Every great athlete has a coach.
- Every great business leader has a mentor or coach.
- All entrepreneurs I respect and look up to have one thing in common: they have a coach.
Why Coaching?
A coach is NOT a counselor, but rather, a person who assists the client to discover what is in their own heart, their desires, their dreams, their passions, and their purpose.
Once clarity has been achieved, the coach then assists the client in the process of strategic planning and goal setting, then provides accountability and support with the goals and objectives the client has determined to be most important.
- Types of Coaching Relationships:
- Individual Coaching
- Group Coaching
- Mastermind Groups
- Coaching ProgramsFind out more at BrianHolmes.com/coaching
Feature Presentation: * 4 Types of Change + Change that happens around us. + Change that happens to us. + Change that happens in us. + Change we make happen.
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Seasons
- Seasons are a part of life
- We tend to get comfortable in one season and refuse to move when seasons change.
- To everything, there is an appointed time and season.
-
Shift and Adjust
- See the possibilities from the new season’s perspective.
- The new does not adjust to us, we must adjust to it.
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7 Things That Must Be Renewed Seasonally
- New Priorities
- New Relationships
- New Normal
- New Focus
- New Contexts
- New Connections
- New Commitments
- Change is inevitable and seasons come and go.
- Are you willing to allow new life to emerge through the process of allowing yourself to die to the past?
We’re unpacking the 10th of 12 factors that determine success, which is accountability. While isolation may appear an ideal, productive environment, it can cost you dearly. While you may have a clear vision of where you’re headed, that clarity may be based in tunnel-vision. You need to not only seek, but accept counsel and input from those you trust, and you need to surround yourself with those people. Listen in for more on accountability, and how it will take your success to the next level.
To say distractions are rife would be an understatement. We are constantly bombarded with information in every form: advertisements, news, social media, bantering, etc.
With all we have coming at us, vying for our attention, it takes extreme discipline to stay on point, stay focused, and keep progressing.
In addition to the daily tasks that distract us, I’m really talking about shiny objects, rabbit trails, good work vs. great work, and so on.
If you want to win in your life, leadership, impact, you must develop the skills and the discipline of process, focus, and follow through.
That’s what I want to talk about today.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: * Studies show each time you check your email, you lose 23 minutes of your time in switching back to the work you were doing. * Multi-tasking actually leads to a 40% reduction in measurable productivity. * This is why I’m recommending: The Freedom App
Shiny Objects & Idea Overload: * When we commit to a project, goal, or some other meaningful endeavor, it is important we know how to properly handle the new information and deal with the constant flow of ideas coming to us. * The Litmus Test For Ideas And Projects (in order!) + What: What are you compelled to create, do, or accomplish? + Why: Can you identify the difference this will make in the lives of others? Why is it important? + Who: Who are you supposed to be doing this with? (team members, cheerleaders, mastermind, etc.) + Where: What area, industry, or people group does your proposed idea or project affect? + How: Details, mechanics, components, systems, marketing, etc.
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Additional questions to ask:
- What does the completed product/project look like?
- What has to be true when this project is completed?
- What is the best result if you do take action?
- What is the worst result if you do not take action?
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Brain dump, prioritize, apply the litmus test, and decide what goes, what stays, and what might be filed away for 90 days.
- Every time you say “yes” to something, you are saying “no” to something else.
- USE THIS TEST to determine what you will say yes or no to!
We’re unpacking the ninth of 12 factors that determine success, which is all about relationships. Relationships need to be prioritized, nurtured, evaluated. The relationships you choose to have in your life will directly impact the trajectory of your impact and the level of success you achieve. Who you pursue and who you allow to pursue you are paramount choices in your life. Tune in today to hear more about the important role relationships play in our success.
If you want to build anything (life, business, success, marriage, relationships, etc.), it is imperative for you to lay down a proper foundation in accordance with the structure you plan to build.
My father-in-law spent over 20 years as a professional homebuilder and he took great pride in the quality and surety of the foundations upon which he built his houses. Foundations are critical in the success of a build.
I often think about the massive skyscrapers erected in cities around the world. Careful planning comes in play as a foundation is meticulously engineered to support the building or structure to be constructed upon it.
Why should our lives be any different?
In today’s feature presentation, I’m going to share how you can engineer, construct, and lay a foundation for success, prosperity, and happiness, that will stand the test of time.
Tips, Tools, And Resources: * Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner has been an incredible planning and productivity resource for me! * Set your course, determine your next steps, chart your progress, stay on track. * To learn more, visit brianholmes.com/fullfocus
Building A Foundation: + Engineer the foundation - Remember what to consider + Prepare the ground - What needs to be cleared away? + Lay down the forms - Set boundaries + Make it permanent - Once the foundation has been laid, you can only go up!3 Things To Consider When Laying a Foundation:
1. The 4 Cornerstones
2. The Relationship Factor
3. Don’t Cut Corners
We’re unpacking the eighth of 12 factors that determine success, which is implementing discipline and systems. Is the execution of tasks, goals, or projects one of your strengths? One thing that helps to have discipline or structure come a little easier is to have the right systems and the right team members in place. Discipline and systems are not only important, they’re critical. Let me encourage you on how to get them both in your life and business today!
If you are a long-time listener, or you’re just now discovering the program, we are thrilled to have you here with us!
During the last few months while we worked on rebranding and reworking not only our podcast but our overarching goals and business plans, we took a hiatus from our Thursday podcast episodes. Today is the day of our return, and I am so happy to be back in the saddle!
On today’s program, I want to give you a preview of what is ahead and share what the podcast is going to look like moving forward.
Buckle up, everyone. It’s …The all-new STRATEGIC LIVING PODCAST!
First, a Disclaimer: * This episode is not going to contain the full version of the new podcast format, nor will it harbor a topic-based feature presentation. * This episode is designed to give you more of a sneak peek, or preview, to show what you’re plugging in to, how you can subscribe to the message, and connect on a new, higher level.
What You Can Expect: * (Did you catch the new intro music and announcement?) + Check out Derrick’s Music + Like the voiceover? Let Val connect you with Kris Edwards. * New Format + Opening Episode Preview + Tips, Tools, or Recommended Resources + Feature Presentation + Influencers Challenge + Closing * Content will include: + Occasional interviews + Teaching/Development oriented content + Emphasis on elements of The 4 Cornerstones + Emphasis on business and ministry endeavors + Strategic influence in the 7 Spheres + …and much more!
Closing Thoughts: I am thrilled to be back on Thursdays! Join us next week for Foundations For True Success.
We’re unpacking the seventh of 12 factors that determine success, which is having goals, and following through on planning. If you don’t have a plan you’ll lose your way, and if you don’t have set goals, you’ll hit them every time (in a big fat goose egg). Goals and planning are imperative in your day-to-day and in your long-term successes. Beyond having vision for what is possible, you need to implement steps for how to reach those possibilities. Today’s episode talks more in detail about exactly that.
We’re unpacking the sixth of 12 factors that determine success (halfway through!), which is having vision. I’m not talking so much about the ability for you to physically see things around you, but for you to see beyond from a planning and dreaming and envisioning perspective. The ability to see beyond your current reality may seem simple, but is so profound in the pathway to your success. In order to see success, we need to have vision beyond our today. Tune in to find out more.
We’re unpacking the fifth of 12 factors that determine success, which is having a desire to serve others. While I’m not encouraging you to “give away the farm” so to speak, I want you to pay close attention to what I have to say about involving others and going out of your way to serve them wholly. Evaluate the people you already work with or have relationship with and see how you can serve them. Also, whenever you meet a stranger, see if you can be proactive in serving their needs. Incubate a desire to serve others.
We’re unpacking the fourth of 12 factors that determine success, which is having a cause or a mission bigger than yourself. Your personal goals and desired outcomes are absolutely important, but what about your WHY behind your WHAT? The reason you do what you do needs to be rooted in something more than personal satisfaction or gratification. Listen in today to find out why.
We’re unpacking the third of 12 factors that determine success, which is your core belief systems. Did you know what you believe and what you hold to be true governs the outcomes in your life? Even if something is completely false, but our hearts or minds believe it to be true, we will make decisions and orchestrate behaviors based in that belief. Crazy, right? Listen in today and pull the curtain back on where your beliefs may be keeping you stuck, and how you can launch ever forward in your success.
We’re unpacking the second of 12 factors that determine success, which is that of self awareness. If you don’t understand who you were created to be, you’ll always be a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. The image you perceive of yourself may not be who you really are. Some of our struggles in life exist simply because we can’t figure out who to be in our own skin. Self awareness is a tricky factor, but a critical one. Tune in to find out more about why.
We’re unpacking the first of 12 factors that determine success, which is that of spiritual connectedness. I believe this is the foundational factor in any success journey, and without this crucial component, any opportunity will be off-kilter, or not be at its full potential. It’s a personal connection and deep, meaningful relationship. It’s the ultimate guidance and wisdom we can’t quite comprehend, but still have available to us. Tune in as we talk about this first factor in success: spiritual connectedness.
Today I’m introducing 12 factors that determine success and setting the stage for a deeper dive into strategies and components you can’t afford to be without. While today’s introduction is a general overview of all 12 factors, we will take each one separately and have it’s own episode around it. Tune in today and discover what these 12 factors are, which ones you believe you know the most about, and challenge yourself to stay involved as we unpack each one and shed some fresh perspective on them for you.
We’re concluding our series on the 4 C’s of Strategic Leadership, and today we’re talking about the fourth and final C: Communication. We’ve covered character, competence, and confidence so far. When you think about communication, you may sell yourself short by only thinking about the importance of what you say. Communication goes far beyond our own voice, however. Tune in today to learn more about the heart of communication and why it’s critical in leadership.
We’re continuing a new series on the 4 C’s of Strategic Leadership, and today we’re talking about the third C: Confidence. We’ve covered character and competence, but if you approach a situation or your calling with the right character and the right skill set, but you lack belief or confidence you’re able to execute, the entire result will suffer. Tune in as we talk about this more in-depth in today’s episode.
We’re continuing a new series on the 4 C’s of Strategic Leadership, and today we’re talking about the second C: Competence. Last week we talked about the importance of character and how who you are and how you act are critical in gaining trust and setting the foundation for your influence. This week, we continue that theme in talking about competence and the importance of what you know, what you’ve mastered, what you’re willing to learn, and what you’re able to contribute.
In this special edition episode, I have a few big announcements about the podcast and I’ll be giving you a preview of some of the major changes coming to BrianHolmes.com and Strategic Influencers LLC.
As always, I’m honored you’re here and super excited you have made the decision to take it ALL to the next level, and beyond!
Where We’ve Been: * Strategic Influencers, LLC * Blog & Podcast began in 2013 * Monday Mastery video series * Coaching & speaking * Strategic Influencers Mastermind (2016)
Vision for 2017/18 & Beyond: * Training & development company * Focused on personal and leadership development * Empower individuals to administer high levels of influence and principle-centered leadership in every area of culture * Strategic Influencers International Network * Youth mentoring programs
Big Dreams, Narrowed Focus: * There are so many people out there who want to succeed, increase their leadership capacity, make a difference in others’ lives, BUT they are not receiving the coaching, training, mentoring, or development they need to be activated and effective in their place of influence. I want to change that!
What Does This Mean for BrianHolmes.com, Monday Mastery, and the weekly podcast? * They are not going anywhere, at least not for long. * The website is getting a makeover and update. * The podcast will also undergo a makeover and update. + This includes shifting the name of the podcast back to the original name … The Strategic Living Podcast, a name that more broadly aligns with the training and content our listeners want.
To help us prepare for these major changes and update, we will be putting the Thursday podcast on hiatus for the months July and August 2017. During this time, we will continue to release ONE episode each week on Monday mornings. This will be our Monday Mastery series, which is our compact, high value, and always-impactful series on taking your life and leadership to the next level. Our Thursday podcast (the all new, full length version Strategic Living Podcast) will re-launch on September 7th. Closing Thoughts: We are working hard to bring you the very best personal and leadership development content available!
I’m introducing a new series on the 4 C’s of Strategic Leadership, and today we’re talking about the first C: Character. If you’re going to be a high-level influencer, being a leader or person of character is paramount. How you act in public and private life all matter and are a part of what gives you character. Tune in for more on this first C of strategic leadership and lay the foundation for the remaining three.
Over the last two weeks, we have been talking about rising to the next level. The premise is simple: there is a next level waiting, but whether you choose to engage or not is up to you.
As you’re probably aware, I turned 50 earlier this year. While others may not be excited about that landmark, I’m more excited than I’ve ever been.
As we prepare to take our website, podcast, and business to the next level, I want to pull back the curtain today and give you a peek into some of the lessons I’ve learned, the changes made, the challenges faced, and the glorious hope I have about the future.
Tune in to this episode for The State Of The Host Address: An Inside Look At My Own Quest For The Next Level.
History of the Host: * 2012 Next Level Quest * No room for double-mindedness * Identity and meaning * Philosophy and core beliefs challenged * Faith, humility, and willingness to learn
The State of the Host: * Turning 50 is not the beginning of the end … it’s the beginning of a new beginning * I am confident in whose I am, and I am learning more every day about WHO I am * My work matters, and what matters is building people * I am committed to those I am created to serve * I love God, I love my wife, I love my kids, and all my friends and colleagues
Closing Thoughts: As we embark on the newest chapter in this QUEST for more, I encourage you to join the movement. Don’t settle for yesterday’s victories … commit to tomorrow’s possibilities. I am in a GREAT place and am ready to climb the mountain to the next level.
How about YOU?
We’re rounding out the four quadrants of leadership today, with this final episode in this series. We’ve talked about personal leadership, family leadership, and community leadership so far, and today we’re talking about vocational leadership – more specifically, the people group you’re called to serve.
Last week, I introduced part one of a two-part series on what it means to take your life and leadership to the next level. The premise is there IS a next level available to you – right now!
How does one navigate their journey between their current circumstance and the next? Between here and there? What are the steps and considerations one might encounter on their way to their new level?
On today’s episode, I want to take a closer look at the keys you can use to unlock and unleash your next level.
Let’s talk about part 2 of The Next Level Challenge: 5 Truths About Transitioning To Your Next Level.
Part 1 Review: * The term “next level” is not necessarily defined in the dictionary, but if you look broad and deep enough, you will deduce that “next level” is somewhere different than where you are right now! * It’s higher, farther, more productive, more lucrative, more influential. * It is outside of the ordinary; beyond normal; a notch above the status quo. * It represents better, bigger, and MORE!
5 Truths About Transitioning To Your Next Level: 1. Your next level is closer than you think. 2. What got you here will not take you “there”. 3. Next level results require next level thinking. 4. Not everyone will go with you to the next level. 5. Your next level is not your last level, but it is the next level.
Closing Thoughts: * The best time to commit to taking your life to the next level is right now! * Stop deferring your advance to an ambiguous timeline. * Make a decision, go for the gold, and do it today!
You and I have the power to influence our inner circles, and the ripples we leave beyond our immediate spheres. The way to do that, the way to have a positive, powerful impact on the world around us, is to get involved in it. Oftentimes we “excuse” ourselves from civic service, thinking it will be someone else’s job. And it very well may be. But will they do the kind of job that best suits the future? Or do you have more of a leadership responsibility than you gave yourself credit for?
On today’s program, I want us to begin to explore what it means to take our life and leadership to the next level.
I’m also going to be sharing with you why the next few weeks are so very strategic for me, for our podcast, and for our work, AND why what we are sharing is going to make a massive difference in your life.
What Is The Next Level? * Let’s begin by considering the meaning of NEXT LEVEL. * The term “next level” is not necessarily defined in the dictionary, but if you look broad and deep enough, you will deduce that “next level” is somewhere different than where you are right now! * It’s higher, farther, more productive, more lucrative, more influential. * It is outside of the ordinary; beyond normal; a notch above the status quo. * It represents better, bigger, and MORE!
What’s At Risk: Are you willing to settle for what is getting you by, or are you ready to go after ALL that is available to you?
LIFE:
- Health
- Marriage
- Relationships
- Finances
- Spiritual life
- Mental/Emotional Well-being
- Education/Personal Development
BUSINESS/WORK:
- Dreams/Goals
- Business Endeavors
- Career/Job
- Charitable work
- Social contributions
- Making a difference
- Serving your community
MINISTRY:
- Pastor
- Staff Member
- Para-church ministry leader
- Marketplace
Wherever you are, whoever you are, there is a NEXT LEVEL waiting for you even now!
Family leadership is something that is so important, yet we find it missing in so many areas of our culture today. While in our last episode, we focused on being able to take care of yourself and your own personal growth and development, we continue that train of thought with developing leadership in the family. Having a title of “mom” or “dad” does not make you a qualified family leader. Your leadership within your family holds the key to the success of your children, and your children’s children.
No doubt you’ve heard about her and the struggles she has endured over the last few years especially. After her husband was shot and killed here in Texas, Taya Kyle had a choice to make. She could give up, or she could step up.
I had the distinct honor and privilege of visiting with Taya Kyle for the podcast, and know you will find this episode inspiring, encouraging, and forthright.
Listen in and let today’s episode be the push you need to pursue your best potential.
More About Taya:
Taya Kyle is an American Daughter, an American Mom, and an American Wife that women throughout the world can feel a connection with.
As a focal point for military and first responder families throughout the United States, Taya has become a beacon of light for women through displaying her tenacity, strength, and faith in God in steering her family through tragedy.
Following on from the heartbreaking, sudden death of her husband, Chris Kyle – the author of New York Times best-selling book and Academy Award-winning motion picture, American Sniper – Taya has worked tirelessly to extend his legacy to the American people through the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation.
The Chris Kyle Frog Foundation aims to build a highly connected network of military and first responder families through meaningful interactive experiences.
In her own right, Taya has become a well-respected figure for military and first responder families and American women through appearances on the likes of Patriot Tour with Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell and regular media appearances representing Chris and the Foundation.
Taya’s story, American Wife (released May 2015 – HarperCollins), has given Taya the platform to tell her story, while also teaching on grief, faith, and love.
It represents the opportunity for Taya to be more deeply connected with American women, tell her story and use her experiences to help others.
Chris Kyle Frog Foundation: Click Here Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter
You are not able to lead others successfully without first getting your life, priorities, and personal self in order. “Fake it till you make it” will only get you so far, and is not in any sense advisable. It may be difficult, but it’s necessary for you to clear the cobwebs and make room for growth. Tune in today to hear more about personal leadership.
Imagine yourself with your own board of directors, or knights of the round table. Who lifts you up, who mentors you, who scales you back, and who tries to keep you on their own path or idea for you? It’s time to reconvene and surround yourself with those who can propel you to your highest potential. Not sure who I’m talking about? Listen in today and evaluate your circle of influence.
It has been a long time since we’ve had my good friend, Aaron Walker, on the podcast, so we were thrilled to do another interview with him today!
Aaron has an incredible heart, he is an incredible leader, and he shares incredible wisdom he has learned from his own life experience and from overcoming a devastating tragedy.
Every time I talk with Aaron, I’m left feeling inspired, encouraged, and challenged. He is completely authentic and savvy, and yes – you can be both.
I’m honored to share this conversation with Aaron with you today, and know you will have a better week for taking the time to listen.
About Aaron:
Aaron Walker is without question a veteran entrepreneur. Starting his first business at 18 and selling to a Fortune 500 company nine short years later demonstrates Aaron’s passion for succeeding. Unwilling to rest on past success Aaron started, bought and sold twelve successful companies over the past 38 years.
Having a strong desire for personal development has kept Aaron in a weekly mastermind group for more than a decade with Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Ken Abraham and seven other notable Nashvillians.
Aaron has enjoyed a 37-year marriage with his beautiful wife, Robin. Today Aaron spends the majority of his time HELPING MEN GROW IN SUCCESS AND SIGNIFICANCE as President and Founder of VIEW FROM THE TOP, a premier life and business coaching resource.
Aaron’s new book, View From The Top is guaranteed to motivate and inspire you to live a successful and significant life. Also, Aaron is the Co-Author of The Mastermind Blueprint endorsed by many including Seth Godin. Aaron has a vibrant history that guarantees to inspire you to reach heights you never dreamed possible.
Connect with Aaron: Aaron’s Website: Click Here Aaron’s New Book: Click Here! Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Closing Thoughts: * Connect with Aaron! * Were you inspired by what he shared today?
I’m sure you have mentors in life who are positioned in places, or who have accomplished objectives you aspire to. I’m also certain you have people who look up to you and want to go or do similar places and objectives as you have. The important thing to remember is not everyone is helping you get where you need to be. As others are pulling you in the direction you need to go, it is also your responsibility to push others and inspire them to reach their goals and dreams. Listen in for more on the push/pull effect.
I’m excited to share again what we’ve created for you – the emerging leaders, business owners, church leaders, solo-preneurs, artists, and ANYONE who desire to take their life, business, and leadership to the next level.
We’ve launched our second season of the Strategic Influencers Mastermind group! Many of you are familiar with the concept and function of a mastermind group, though others of you may not be. I’m going to share the vision, concept, value, and practical functions of the mastermind.
Today we’ll answer:
- What is a mastermind group?
- Where did the idea come from?
- What does a mastermind do?
- How can it benefit you and your business?
- Why should every aspiring leader be a part of a mastermind program?
- And so much more
Let’s get right into discussing The Strategic Influencers Mastermind: Next Level Collaboration for Emerging Leaders.
What Is A Mastermind? * Mastermind groups offer a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen your business and personal skills. * A mastermind group helps you and your mastermind group members achieve more success. * Participants challenge each other to set powerful goals, and more importantly, to accomplish them. * The group requires commitment, confidentiality, willingness to both give and receive advice and ideas, and support each other with total honesty, respect, and compassion. * Mastermind group members act as catalysts for growth and supportive colleagues. * The concept of the “mastermind alliance” was formally introduced by Napoleon Hill in his timeless classic, “Think And Grow Rich,” though mastermind groups have been around since the beginning of time. * Even Benjamin Franklin belonged to such a group, which he called a Junto.
The Benefits of Belonging to a Mastermind Group: * In a mastermind group, the agenda belongs to the group and each person’s participation and commitment is key * Your mastermind partners give you feedback, help you brainstorm new possibilities * The mastermind provides accountability structures that keep you focused and on track * You create a community of supportive colleagues who brainstorm together to move the members to new heights * You’ll gain tremendous insights which improve your business and personal life * Your mastermind group is like having an objective board of directors, a success team, and a peer advisory group, all rolled into one.
The Strategic Influencers Mastermind Group: What are we looking for? * You have a burning desire to elevate your life and leadership. * You’re working full time on your business or are close to making that move. * You recognize your need to have others speak into your life and situation, * You are committed to adding value to others in the group * You are able to commit to a weekly online mastermind group meeting. * You are willing and able to commit to attending 2-3 “in-person” meetings each calendar year. * You are able and willing to invest financially in your mastermind membership
(More information and guidelines will be provided to you in your personal interview)
When We Meet: Every Monday
- 7pm Central
- 8pm Eastern
- 5pm Pacific
Where Do We Meet? Weekly (Online) Meetings
Our primary and most consistent method for meeting is online. The wonderful thing about this is you can be anywhere as long as you have a quality internet connection. Your geographical location is not important, but your presence on the video conference is.
Each week we meet on the same day and at the same time. We use a well-respected and dependable service called ZOOM.
In-Person Intensives
We will conduct two to three in-person meetings each calendar year. The format of these will vary from meeting to meeting, however, they are a very different experience than our weekly calls.
Each LIVE meeting will consist of two days of training, processes, and high-level mastermind exercises designed to generate a 10X outcome in your life, business, ministry, or mission. Each member will have extensive “hot seat” time and will leave the meeting with a strategy and actionable plan.
If you want more information on this incredible opportunity, go to: BrianHolmes.com/mastermind NOTE:
- There is an application and interview process.
- Not everyone will be accepted.
- This is a PAID mastermind group.
- There is a significant investment for membership in the SIMM group.
Again, If you want more information on this incredible opportunity, go to:
BrianHolmes.com/mastermind We look forward to having you join us on THE NEXT LEVEL!
Closing Thoughts: * You can continue to do what you have always done, and you will continue to have what you have right now. * If you are ready to take your life and your leadership to the next level, join us. * We would be honored to have you in the mastermind!
We are absolutely affected by our environment and our surroundings. Not only relationships, but attitudes, events, culture – those things we’re immersed in on a regular basis. If we are in a negative environment, we will eventually become worn down or negative ourselves. Tune in to hear how we can identify our environments and position ourselves in areas we need to be.
As leaders, we are compelled to serve others. We always pour personal investments into other people. That said, however, we must remember we cannot give what we do not have, and serving while on empty creates incredible challenges for us personally. Leadership burnout is a real problem!
Whether you’re the CEO, a pastor, or a solo-preneur, taking care of YOU is paramount to the success of your leadership calling. But how can you make sure your account stays full? Why should Me-Time and We-Time be a priority in your life?
Today, we’re talking about The Invaluable Investment Of Time.
The Root Most leaders find themselves working non-stop, always engaged in some way. No doubt several have experienced high levels of success due to this drive, but at what cost?
How many people arrive at the pinnacle of their career only to look back on their life and see a trail of carnage, especially of relationships lost along the way?
The 21st century culture is so success/results driven, we often sacrifice the things that matter the most on the altar of status or accolade.
We invest in the wrong things for the wrong reasons, forgetting how important it is to invest in ourselves, and those we love.
10 Reasons Why “Me” Time & “We” Time Are Vitally Important: 1. Rest 2. Recovery 3. Regained Perspective 4. Restored Hope 5. Renewed Vision 6. Recreation 7. Relationship Triage 8. Relationship Deposits 9. Growth & Development 10. Rediscover Your Why
Show Extras: Fellowship of the Sword: Visit Site Here Closing Thoughts: * Schedule your time away. * Not only will your work survive without you for a few days, but you’ll be better (and so might those around you) after some time separated from it! * Is it worth it to sacrifice your relationships for building your business?
Jim Rohn says you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Another saying goes “a rising tide raises all ships.” There is a law of averages according to our relationships! Quality, not quantity, in our connection and our relationships, is what spurs us on to our next levels in life. It is not only about who we spend time with, but what those people are thinking, doing, and practicing in their own lives. The same is true of us, and what we’re able to contribute to the people we surround ourselves with.
We are creatures of comfort, craving the familiar and “normal”. We unconsciously defend – even rationalize – our positions and attitudes as a way of avoiding exposure or risk.
Most times, however, you have to leave safety and security behind and risk everything to commit your life and future to your unknown destiny.
There will be times in life when you need to cut all escape routes, and stand with victory as your only choice.
Episode Summary: * If you’re going to succeed, you may have to sabotage your own escape mechanisms! Are you really all in?
Application: * The Story of Cortez * We need to identify what we regularly retreat to, and if necessary, eliminate it. * Being comfortable can rob you of motivation, urgency, or focus necessary for living by design. * What got you here is not going to get you there. * We have to burn the boats!
5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself: * What brought me here? (What is my ship?) * How have I usually responded to resistance or fear of the unknown? * What am I clinging to as a fallback or safety net? * What do I need to elminate (burn) in order to have nowhere to retreat back to? * Am I willing to commit everything to the pursuit of my next level?
Closing Thoughts: * You are at the threshold of a new conquest, a new territory, a completely new level of performance and productivity. * Will you go all in? Or will you cave to fear?
Most people consider the “cost”, and everything they encounter is a consumable. What would happen if we shifted our mindset to an investment rather than a cost, and began to reap the returns from what we’re investing in? This is a critical and crucial shift in how we view how we can improve our influence and impact. Listen in and see if you agree.
It’s been said one is lucky (and even blessed) if in their lifetime they have a handful of true friends. As you and I grow in life, and pursue the things the Father has for us, we will find not everyone is willing to go where you are going.
I want to share with you a little more about my journey the last few years, and how along the way, it has been necessary to evaluate relationships, and make adjustments in order to continue our progress. In this episode I’ll revisit 7 Tough-Love Truths About Relationships.
An interesting exercise is to go back in your life and make a list of all the “friends” you’ve had. Then, consider how many of those same people are no longer a part of your life. Ask yourself, “why?”
Everything, even relationships, has a time and a season. Some relationships last a lifetime, though those are few and far between. Most relationships are seasonal; they come into our life for a time and serve a wonderful purpose in that season, but then they are gone.
7 Tough-Love Truths About Relationships: 1. Not everyone is called to walk the same path. 2. Not everyone says “YES!” to God’s invitation to follow Him into unchartered territory. 3. Not all relationships will transition with you into a new season or place. 4. You cannot expect someone to understand if they are not on the same path as you. 5. Most people choose the status quo – – it’s just easier. 6. In order to follow the Father’s voice, we oftentimes must leave what is familiar and embrace the unknown. 7. Trust God will bring NEW and meaningful relationships in your life that will build you up, encourage you, and cheer you on to purpose.
Closing Thoughts:
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~ Proverbs 18:24
Most people I know rush through their mornings and spend the rest of their day trying to catch up, or find themselves having spent their whole day feeling behind. If you put this simple play into practice, however, you can change your whole WEEK (month, year…) simply by tweaking your morning. Listen in today as we talk about how to dominate your ENTIRE day, in two hours time!
You’ve heard it said many times, “Readers are leaders”
This is absolutely true, however, leading is about more than just filling your head with a lot of stuff; it is about learning, and most importantly, implementing what you learn.
My guest today exemplifies what this looks like in every way! Jeff and I met earlier this year at a Ray Edwards event, and became fast friends. He is a wonderful leader, and has a beautiful heart.
Most notably, he is making a HUGE impact in our world.
I am incredibly excited to revisit his interview on the program. Let’s go right now to my exclusive interview with Jeff Brown.
About Jeff:
Jeff Brown is a podcaster, mentor and speaker who is passionate about helping others bridge the gap between intentionality and implementation.
He achieves this every day by sharing his professional insights, and the insights of successful people all over the world, on leadership, personal development, productivity, entrepreneurship and more through his blog, podcast, and through personal consulting and speaking.
Before beginning his highly-acclaimed, top-ranking Read to Lead podcast, he spent 26-years in radio.
He lives near Nashville, TN with his wife Annie, and two miniature Dachshunds, Fritz and Frank.
Jeff has interviewed a number of New York Times bestselling authors including John Maxwell, Seth Godin, Dan Miller, Daniel Pink, Simon Sinek, Chris Brogan (not once but twice), Gary Vaynerchuk and Liz Wiseman among others.
Connect with Jeff: Jeff’s Website: Click Here Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Closing Thoughts: * Connect with Jeff! * Were you inspired to read and lead?
When we see what we want or even need to do, sometimes our head says yes but it is disconnected from our heart and we’re not sure we can do what we really want or need. Doubt leads to hesitation. Hesitation leads to failure. Failure creates shame and condemnation. Simply said, double mindedness leads to failure and shame! Let’s switch this around to thinking clearly and propelling us to success.
Hi. My name is Brian Holmes, and I am a recovering people pleaser. Before you get your feathers ruffled, I’m willing to bet you’re one, too!
Why do so many of us struggle with pleasing others and gaining their approval? What motivates us to say yes when we know we shouldn’t? Is it possible to break free from people-pleasing and performance-based approval?
In this episode, we’ll revisit an issue that seemed to resonate with so many of you and answer these questions and more as we talk about Breaking Free From The Addiction of Approval.
You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” ~ John Lydgate
What is the ROOT of our approval addiction? Most often, this tendency can be tracked back to a relationship or an event where one’s value was inherently linked to their performance.
What is the RESULT of our approval addiction? * We say yes when we know we should say no. * We accept jobs that do not bring us satisfaction or benefit us financially. * We make promises we can’t keep. * We create an unsustainable life!
Reflection Questions: 1. Do you have a hard time saying “no”?
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Do you find yourself striving to meet what you perceive to be other people’s expectations?
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Do you lose self-esteem when people criticize or question you?
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Do you often find yourself trying to help people understand why you are doing what you are doing?
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Do you feel as though you never measure up?
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Are you consumed with seeking approval or recognition?
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Are you a people pleaser?
7 Truths You Must Embrace: 1. You are loved, accepted, and approved of by God.
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You have tremendous value.
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Your value is not based on what you do, but who you are.
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The people in your life will always have their expectations of you, but only you can determine what you expect from yourself.
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People pleasing is a plague. It will only bring you misery, frustration, and less than success.
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You cannot expect people to understand where you are or where you are going. They simply cannot.
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“If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection.” ~ LeCrae
Tips For Breaking Free: * Unplug for a moment. * Decompress and take the pressure off yourself. * Evaluate by listing your gifts, talents, abilities, and qualities. * Get Clarity. Who am I, and why am I here? * Identify the areas you feel you need to please others. * Ask. Why? What is the root of this need in me? * Decide. I will resolve this root issue and I will no longer be driven by fear. * Create boundaries. Make decisions ahead of time. * Be Accountable. * Practice “no”.
Closing Thoughts: * We teach people how to treat us. * Most people love you as long as you fit in the box they’ve created for you. * Don’t be afraid to disappoint. Do what is right and let the chips fall where they may.
Have you ever known anyone who, no matter what seems to happen, they always blame someone else? The art of deflection is quite destructive. Take ownership, accountability, and responsibility rather than deflecting those as excuses. When you own it, you can really go places.
Tired eyes rarely see a good future, and a tired mind rarely makes good decisions.” ~ Mike Murdock
One of the most damning traits of the western culture is an obsession with being busy. There is a false supposition many have bought into: if you are not busy doing something, you are not valuable.
In the US, a staggering percentage of people experience depression, hypertension, disease, and so many other challenges, and so much of this is tied to stress, anxiety, and lack of REST.
This episode, I want to talk to you about real rest: living from a place of stillness and quiet, even in the midst of chaos. I want to talk to you about being intentional with your life (living strategically), and re-centering in the rest that God has provided us. Today, let’s discuss Practicing the Principle of Rest.
The Value of Being Still:
He says “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. ~ Psalm 46:10-11 [NASB]
There is incredible value in being still. Being still (and quiet) allows us to:
- Regroup; re-center; re-connect with the One who holds our world in His hands
- De-clutter and de-compress
- Hear HIS VOICE and know HIS PLANS
- Position ourselves for change and transition
- Find peace, confidence, and the courage to go forward
Practicing Sabbath: Hebrews 4:9-16
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Practicing Sabbath (rest) positions us to receive mercy and grace!
12 Benefits to Practicing the Principle of Rest: 1. It allows you to repair 2. It allows you to reboot 3. It allows you to be renewed 4. It allows you to receive (or be filled up) 5. It allows you to rebuild 6. It allows you to see more clearly 7. It allows you to hear God’s voice more clearly 8. It gives us confidence to draw close to Him 9. It provides you with peace that is not comprehensible 10. It provides you freedom from expectations of others 11. It allows you to release more of your creativity and potential 12. It shifts our focus from what we can do to what God can do when we walk with Him
Closing Thoughts: * Are you tired, burned out, frustrated? * Do you feel like you are living your life to please others? * Are you stressed and anxious about your future? * Do you feel as if you have to perform in order to feel accepted, loved, and approved of?
What you believe about money governs what you believe and act out in so many other areas of your life. If you believe you should lack, you will. If you believe you can bless others, you will. But it’s hard to bless with what you don’t have, right? Tune in to today’s Monday Mastery for a discussion on financial philosophies.
Relationships come and go. As you and I grow and pursue what the Father has for us, we find not everyone is willing to go where we’re called to go.
In this revisited episode I share a little about my journey the last few years, and how along the way it’s been necessary to evaluate relationships and make adjustments in order to continue our progress. I’m thrilled to bring to you my Interview With Dennis McIntee!
More about Dennis: For the last 25 years, Dennis has traveled extensively working with leaders to uncover their personal and organizational constraints in order to build high-trust, high-performance cultures. The first 15 years of his career was in pastoral ministry in the U.S. and Europe.
A whole new world opened up to Dennis when he realized these same principles that changed people’s lives could also change their companies. In 2004, he formed The Leadership Development Group to help leaders win at the game of work and the business of life.
Dennis is passionate about helping leaders develop their coaching skills. When a leader improves, their organization improves. He keynotes frequently at leadership seminars, as well as appearing in magazines, newspapers, trade journals, and on national radio and TV.
He is the author of The Power of Pursuit, People Smart, Time Mastery, and most recently The 8 Qualities of Drama Free Teams.
Disappointed In Your Team’s Results? Are you frustrated because your team doesn’t produce results fast enough? Stressed out because you spend your time putting out fires produced by team drama? The 8 Qualities Of Drama Free Teams will give you the tools you need to accomplish more in less time. This practical handbook shows you 8 different leadership strategies you can use today to see immediate changes in your organization. You don’t have to tolerate the drama. You can lead a high-trust, high-performance team that produces results. And you can do it without putting in more hours, and without working harder. Inside this book, you’ll discover: • The one coaching question that causes people to take personal responsibility. • A proven feedback formula that creates behavioral change. • How to unlock the 4 drivers of human motivation to help your team get more done in less time. Read The 8 Qualities Of Drama Free Teams and start doing more, with less stress, and zero drama.
Connect With Dennis: Dennis’ website: leadershipprocess.com Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
Spring time in these parts means a fresh start, and the infamous spring cleaning! I’m not just talking about dusting and vacuuming, but cleaning out the physical, emotional, and even the unnoticed clutter from your life. If you have clutter, you’re polluting your potential!
We Have “Them and Us” Syndrome One of the greatest travesties I’ve witnessed in my lifetime is intentional separation between the church and the marketplace. This mindset has crippled our ability to bring heaven on earth, and has paralyzed us in becoming relevant change agents in the culture.
On today’s program, I want to share with you the importance of Convergence: When Market And Ministry Collide.
Biblical Principle: Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
7 Mountains of Cultural Influence * Religion * Family * Government * Education * Arts/Entertainment * Communication/Media * Business/Finance
God’s (real) Church Taking Their Place In: * The classroom * The workplace * The sports arenas * The banking world * The halls of government * Hollywood and Broadway * The music industry * TV networks with character * Podcasts/blogs
Review * Movie: Holy Ghost * First Steps To Success – Dani Johnson
A NEW DAY IS DAWNING!
A new generation of KINGDOM leadership is coming up!
Let’s BE church.
What do stale bread, moldy cheese, and stinky meat have to do with our lives, business, relationships, or dreams? Tune in and find out!
What do stale bread, moldy cheese, and stinky meat have to do with our lives, business, relationships, or dreams? Tune in and find out!
We’ve been talking over the last several weeks about life transitions, business transitions, seasons of change in general. Not counting ourselves out, we’re transitioning our program and getting it ready for a relaunch later this spring! We’ll be airing some episodes that have had a tremendous impact over the course of the years since I started this program.
Starting off, let’s revisit how to overcome and replace limiting beliefs!
Episode Summary: * How you see things in life has a direct bearing on how you will EXPERIENCE these things. These kinds of beliefs completely paralyze us from becoming all God has intended us to be. You must change your mind, so you can change your world.
4 Steps for Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: * What is the truth? * How do I effectively replace the old with the new? * Word pictures
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Identify the Limiting Belief
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Identify marker moments
- Identify models
- Identify imposed identities
- Identify words and ideas adopted as truth
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Identify opinions of others/yourself
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Isolate
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Stop that! That is not who I am.
- That is not how I behave.
- That believe no longer serves me.
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That is an untruth, therefore I will not align myself with it.
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Reframe
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What if…..?
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Ask yourself questions so you can reframe what really IS possible.
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Replace
Closing Thoughts: As a man thinketh, so is he. We act in accordance with the truth as we believe it to be. In what holds you back in your life, you’ll need to change your mind so you can change your world. Remember these four steps for overcoming limiting beliefs.
So long as you continue to carry all the weight of everything you’ve experienced through life to today, you’ll continue to be stuck, make no advances, and never experience the freedom that comes from letting go.
So long as you continue to carry all the weight of everything you’ve experienced through life to today, you’ll continue to be stuck, make no advances, and never experience the freedom that comes from letting go.
Five years ago I embarked on an unknown journey. My sense was I was being invited to a place I had never been, and I was filled with uncertainty. (Which is the anatomy of an adventure!)
I said “yes”, even though I didn’t have all – or any – of the answers. When I said “yes”, I did so without hesitation, without reservation, and with all of my heart.
As a result, I’m living a life I never knew possible. There is, however, a next chapter in the story.
Does your “YES” truly mean “YES”?
Episode Summary: * Saying yes is one thing. Knowing what it means when you say it is an entirely different story.
Application: * What I am asking you today: + Look back over the last few months and years + Where have you come from? + Where are you today? + Has God proven Himself to you so far? + Can you trust Him with the next phase of the journey? He will not rob you of what you need
He does not pleasure in taking from us
He is leading you forward
Say YES … Trust the process
Believe again … there are great days ahead!
Closing Thoughts: * Maybe you find yourself in a good place * Maybe you are afraid saying YES to your next level requires some things of you * Know whatever is NEXT is better than where you are * Double-mindedness never produces life * Let Your “YES” Truly Mean “YES”
I always have a lot going on, whether it’s projects, tasks, to-dos, or even having fun. I tend to take on more than I can effectively finish. Less is more. Simplifying is multiplying.
We are creatures of comfort, craving the familiar and “normal”. We unconsciously defend – even rationalize – our positions and attitudes as a way of avoiding exposure or risk.
Most times, however, you have to leave safety and security behind and risk everything to commit your life and future to your unknown destiny.
Episode Summary: * If you’re going to succeed, you may have to sabotage your own escape mechanisms! Are you really all in?
Application: * The Story of Cortez * We need to identify what we regularly retreat to, and if necessary, eliminate it. * Being comfortable can rob you of motivation, urgency, or focus necessary for living by design. * What got you here is not going to get you there. * We have to burn the boats!
5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself: * What brought me here? (What is my ship?) * How have I usually responded to resistance or fear of the unknown? * What am I clinging to as a fallback or safety net? * What do I need to elminate (burn) in order to have nowhere to retreat back to? * Am I willing to commit everything to the pursuit of my next level?
Closing Thoughts: * You are at the threshold of a new conquest, a new territory, a completely new level of performance and productivity. * Will you go all in? Or will you cave to fear?
The passage of time isn’t something simply to look back on. It’s a time to reflect, certainly. But not a certificate to define your tomorrow. Learn, embrace, then embark! Your next season is full of possibility.
What does it mean to be a believer? A believer in what? Today I’m sharing the most meaningful gift I’ve ever received, the story behind it, and the purpose that propels life as I know it!
I love pouring into others and developing leaders, through the content on this podcast especially. I am also an inherently transparent guy, and believe in the value of sharing, learning, and doing life with one another.
What I want to do today is simply share some of my life with you. I want to pull back the curtains a little and let you backstage. I want you to be able to glean from my experiences, and learn from my journey. After all, 50 YEARS IS A LONG TIME!
Join me today as I share some parts of my journey I’ve never shared before, and reflect on the first 50 years of my life.
Episode Summary: * Allow me to disclose the “cliff notes” version of where my life has been, and where it’s headed.
The Early Years (0-20): * Born in 1967 in Houston, TX * Found something incredibly special in music and in airplanes * 11 years old, experienced serious trauma * Loved and excelled in basketball * Started really leading and speaking * Graduated HS in 1985 * Attended seminary for one semester
The Messy Middle (21-40): * Met my wife, Sabrina * Moved to Dallas and got married * Had various jobs and careers over time * The struggle (from all my past junk) really started to rear its head * Our son, Christian, was born * Met Bishop Tudor Bismark * Took my first trip to Africa * Our daughter, Abigail, was born * My dad passed away * My marriage was dissolving and I contemplated taking my life * The Pathways program (My pivot!) * Published my first book, The Ties That Bind
The Last 10 Years: * Another difficult season, and time of transition * Met and befriended new influences * Launched BrianHolmes.com * Joined Mastermind(s) * Developed meaningful relationships * Shifting, growing, leading others and following God
Closing Thoughts: * Next week I’ll share what I’ve learned and where I’m headed. * We’ll also talk about your journey into your best season ever!
As I enter a new year, a new decade, a new season of life, I have some reflections from my first 50 years I’d like to pass along to you!
I don’t think I could be any more excited than I am to introduce you to someone who has had incredible influence and impact in my life.
You’ve heard me speak about the journey I’ve been on over the last five years, and I frequently share when we’re in the midst of transition and advancing to our next level in life, the key relationships God sends us make such a powerful difference.
My guest today is one of those key relationships!
Episode Summary: * Ken Davis hails from Franklin, TN, and has had a tremendous impact on my journey and where I am today. Listen in on his incredible story to find out more, and I promise you: you’ll be moved and inspired by today’s episode.
More About Ken: Ken Davis is one of the country’s most sought-after motivational and inspirational speakers. His mixture of side-splitting humor and his powerful insights on living fully alive have inspired audiences around the world.
Okay! I confess that I actually wrote the above sentence. However, I could not bear to begin the sentence with “I am one of the most sought-after speakers in the universe, etc.” But I can’t pretend someone else is writing this, so here goes.
I am an award-winning author of 12 books. The film Fully Alive, based on my latest book by the same name, was shown in theaters across the U.S. and is now enjoying a popular run on Netflix.
I have kept a full calendar speaking to a diverse group of corporate and faith-based audiences around the world. I am President of Ken Davis Productions and Lighten Up Ministries, which produce inspirational and motivational live shows, DVDs, books, seminars, and conferences designed to make a positive difference in the quality of peoples’ lives.
I was born in beautiful Northern Minnesota and lived there until my blood began to freeze. I now live in Franklin, TN, with my wife Diane.
I am in love with one wife, Diane, five grandchildren, and two daughters. Because I love those people so much, I have decided to let my two sons-in-law live. I am an intensely competitive athlete with no athletic ability to back it up. I regularly compete in triathlons, play racquetball, try to work out an hour a day, and occasionally sleep in. I excel at competitive sleeping.
The Dallas Morning News said of me, “One of the funniest comedians to come down the pike.” but that was 30 years ago. I’ve gotten much better since then.
Boastful resume and attempts at humorous self-deprecation aside, I can promise you this. Whether you bring my live show to your community, decide to spice up your next corporate convention, or invite me to speak to your church community, I will custom design an unforgettable experience that will leave you laughing, thinking, and ready to live more fully alive.
I love seeing auditoriums of people laugh until they require medical attention, I love to awaken in my audience the courage to rise above circumstances and the passion to live Fully Alive! Something tells me that the same desire burns in you as well.
SCORRE Conference: Save $100 off your registration! Enter the code: Holmes Register Here: BrianHolmes.com/SCORRE Connect With Ken: Website: www.kendavis.com Facebook Twitter Closing Thoughts: * Register for the SCORRE Conference, and save $100 with the code holmes * Buy, read, and re-read Ken Davis’ book, Fully Alive
Wrapping up our discussion on new beginnings, what lies ahead? What’s next for you in this new year? Let’s talk about how to see what’s in store, and how to pursue it confidently.
Are you ready to realize true growth, change, and upward movement in your life and leadership?
Are you STUCK in a rut and paralyzed by the underwhelming expectations of those around you?
Today we will identify one of the most challenging enemies you will ever face, and reveal how you can beat it once and for all!
Episode Summary: * Spoiler alert: your most challenging foe is known as the Status Quo.
The Status Quo: * Even in the new year, the status quo demands you adjust your aspirations to its boundaries. * The Status Quo is an invisible foe, but a powerful one. * It constantly regulates your dreams, desires, and sense of possibility. * The status quo is where you belong…or is it?
Status Quo Refresher: * Episode 123: Making The Pivot From Status Quo To So Much More * Episode 163: 10 Things Real Leaders Do To Challenge The Status Quo * Episode 096: 10 Keys For Living An Uncommon Life
7 Steps To Overcome The Status Quo: 1. Make up your mind 2. Declare your WHAT 3. Know and understand your WHY 4. Stop, Keep, Add 5. Be willing to walk away 6. Engage a viable support system 7. Be all in … no matter the risk or cost
Closing Thoughts: * Don’t let this enemy overtake you. * Go beyond the status quo and prepare yourself for a whole new world! * Don’t stay stuck. Move, even if you have to do it creatively.
You’ve heard it said, “What you see is what you get.” The same rings true with what you expect. If you expect the same you’ve always had, you’ll be content to stay there. Find out more in today’s video.
Continuing our discussion on new beginnings, I want to encourage you to embrace the possible, and dust off your dreams.
It’s 2017, and an epic new year has begun! Every new year brings about the opportunity to start anew. It is a widely observed tradition to set resolutions, and for many, a new set of goals and dreams for the coming 12 months.
Many are talking about this, and while I certainly practice goal setting and planning, it is my supposition there are other factors at play to determine whether or not I will be successful in my new commitments and plans.
We’ll talk about that very thing as we discuss how to lay the foundation for an E.P.I.C. 2017!
Episode Summary: * As we begin another new year, I want to help you lay a solid foundation on which to build your preferred future. I am using an acrostic to illustrate my foundational formula, which I hope will make it easier for you to follow, remember, and implement. It is simply E.P.I.C.
E.P.I.C: E: Eliminate Excuses * No more … + I ran out of time + I was too busy + I didn’t have the resources + The other person did so and so
P: Posture Yourself For Your Next Level * Mindset * Relationships * Environment * Act like the person you desire to be
I: Imagine The Possibilities And See Yourself Succeeding * Visualize yourself … + Holding that book in your hand + Standing on that stage + Opening that business + Launching that foundation + Speaking in front of that audience + Influencing thousands of people
C: Confidently Commit To The Process Of Progress * The absence of confidence is timidity or fear; BOTH of which paralyze us from taking the necessary actions to create opportunity and progress * COMMIT to progress: steady movement in the right direction
Closing Thoughts: * Eliminate Excuses. * Posture Yourself For The Next Level. * Imagine The Possibilities And See Yourself Succeeding. * Confidently Commit To The Process Of Progress. * This is how you lay a powerful foundation for an EPIC year!
It’s a new year, which means new beginnings. We’re talking about the importance of a fresh outlook, a clear vision, and determination for making things happen.
There is a tangible sense something is stirring, and we are about to be ushered into a new season of life, a new era of influence, and a window of opportunity like we’ve never seen before!
Today, we are talking in terms of No More Excuses! It’s Go Time!
Episode Summary: * As we wrap up the year, each of us is processing things on different levels, yet all of us are exactly where we were meant to be. That said, it would be a major mistake to carry into next year what God intended for you to be rid of at the close of this year! What lies ahead is a new beginning and new possibilities.
You Are In Business: Whatever it is you do, you were called by God to make a mark and leave a legacy. Your work – whether it’s parenthood, ministry, corporate, nonprofit, etc., is your business. With that in mind, a business is NOT a business unless it makes a profit.
A business fails for one reason: it makes no money.
A nonprofit fails for one reason: it has no money.
Whatever the scenario, you are in business!
Burn the appropriate bridges in 2017!
Get busy! This year is your year – make it your business to see it through!
Today we’re talking about what’s waiting for you once you decide to act and execute your plan.
I want to give you some homework … some tools too. If you want 2017 to be bigger, better, and more productive than 2016, listen in!
Today, we are talking about: 17 Things To Do To Position Yourself For a Transformational 2017.
The Gist: * Whatever you accomplished this year is about to be in your rear view mirror. While it will play a significant part in your future, it is NOT your future. In the same way, areas you did not accomplish or achieve desired outcomes are but a fading memory and an irreversible part of your life’s journey. You would be well served to look ahead!
17 Critical Steps To Position Yourself For 2017: 1. Review your goals. 2. Celebrate your wins. 3. Identify areas you performed well in. 4. Identify areas you did not perform well in. 5. Answer the question: What did I not do that I needed to do? 6. Answer the question: Why? (No excuses, just honest assessment) 7. Forgive yourself. Commit to a fresh, more focused effort. 8. Close the books on 2016. 9. Start clean – blank sheet of paper! 10. Consider the possibilities. …. Really! 11. Answer the question: What do I want for my life, business, and relationships in 2017? 12. Write a short paragraph describing (in great detail) specifically what it is you want in each of those three areas. 13. Create a strategic plan. 14. Count the costs. 15. Inventory and evaluate your key relationships. (Eliminate all negative inputs!) 16. Collaborate in a community of like-minded leaders. 17. Confidently engage and execute the plan.
Today we’re talking about the art of execution, and actually “getting in the game”, mastering personal deployment.
Today we’re continuing talking about personal development and how to incorporate it as a lifestyle.
We’re continuing our discussion on the M.O.R.E. framework, and what it takes to successfully conquer your current status and advance to the next level in your life. Buckle up – we’re going to move fast through these 5 essential elements!
The Gist: In order to achieve M.O.R.E. in the year ahead, you have to embrace, engage, and leverage the process in getting there. You can have more influence, more effectiveness, and all more efficiently, but not without putting in the hard work. There are 5 things you must have to conquer this next level…
5 Essential Elements: 1. Desire 2. Dreams 3. Design 4. Discipline 5. Do
Closing Thoughts: * Identify and embrace your desire. What do you want? * Awaken the dreams within you and capture the vision. * Design the life you want to live. * Be disciplined in your pursuit. * DO something!
Today we’re talking about personal development and the important role a strong, healthy foundation plays when building your future.
There is an often-quoted, frequently discussed, and possibly even cliche principle that governs all of life: As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
This principle is timeless, and most assuredly true. There is nothing more important than mindset. We will always live the results and outcomes produced by our underlying beliefs.
As we prepare for the new year ahead, how can we ensure this next season will produce more, fulfill more, add more, and generate more in every area of our life?
Simply stated, there is but one way: change your mind.
Be honest with yourself. Explore the inner sanctum of your heart and mind (without prejudice) and see what beliefs, recurring thought patterns, or mindsets are holding you back from receiving all God has for your future.
The Gist: Mindset and Money are corresponding items, as we discussed in our last episode. While money is not the only area in life most of us would like to experience M.O.R.E., it is an area which significantly impacts every other area of our lives.
7 Beliefs To Overcome: 1. Money is evil. 2. People who have money are evil. 3. I don’t need more if all my basic needs are met. 4. I’m not worthy or smart enough to have more money. 5. I can’t prosper in this economy. 6. Blessed are the poor. 7. This is my lot in life. After all, someone has to _____.
4 Steps To Overcome Limiting Beliefs: 1. Identify the limiting belief. 2. Isolate the belief. 3. Reframe the belief. 4. Replace the belief with truth.
Closing Thoughts: * What do you believe about you and money? * Have you limited yourself in this area? * Are you ready to change your mind about things that have been holding you back? * Now is the time! This is the season!
Today talking about personal discovery and bringing those past dreams and plans of yours back to the surface of possibility.
Another year is swiftly coming to an end, and for many of us that means a time of both reflection as well as projection. While we look at our past and consider what we’ve accomplished, we also look to a future of uncertainty and challenges.
How you see your future, however, will determine what you will get out of it. If you expect the same, you’ll achieve the same. If you expect newer, better, broader, that is what you will attain.
All of that said, how does one frame a future on a foundation of hope? Are we really able to reframe our hearts and minds to see the possibilities and opportunities before us?
The Gist: Simply stated, this episode is about MORE.
M.O.R.E.: M: Mindset, Money
O: Occupation, Opportunity
R: Recreation, Rest
E: Exercise, Effectiveness
Closing Thoughts: * Where are you on the spectrum of your expectations? * Do you want MORE? * Are you willing to change your present mindset in order to position yourself for ALL available to you? * Do you see opportunity, or are you stuck in an occupation you neither love nor enjoy? * Have you taken time to re-create?
Today we’re digging deeper into personal discovery and talking about the importance of taking a personal inventory.
It’s not every day you hear a podcast where the show has been taken over and the host becomes the guest, but that’s exactly what happened for today’s episode.
To celebrate the incredible milestone of 200 episodes of Brian’s podcast, we turned to you – the audience – for questions we could ask Brian on his show. We sprung those questions on Brian when his assistant, Val, was able to record the conversation.
This is an episode all about Brian, and more specifically, all about answering the very questions submitted by you!
The Gist:
Today is a special edition, as Strategic Leader Podcast has reached 200 episodes! We thought we’d celebrate by turning the tables, and making Brian the guest on his own podcast.
Brian’s assistant, Val, was thrilled to put Brian in the hot seat to answer your burning questions about him, his business, his habits, and for this 200th episode of the Strategic Leader Podcast.
Brian Holmes is the man behind BrianHolmes.com, and the regular host of The Strategic Leader Podcast. He is a leader of leaders, teacher, coach, aviator, seasoned author, highly-acclaimed speaker, and all-around genuine, intuitive, compassionate being.
Brian has shared his journey, his significant transitions, his passion and insights, and has continually poured value into his audience over the last many years.
What We Asked Brian: * How do you ensure the priority of your family and your personal goals outside of this arena remain the focus and take precedent over everything you do in your business? * What are the top three principles you’ve learned and applied that have been paramount to your success? * What are some resources that have greatly influenced your career and calling? * What’s the best business decision you’ve made to ensure you’re following the path of your passion to lead others? * What was the most difficult or important criticism you received and needed to hear – and act on – in order to advance to the level you’re on today? * What does it mean to you to be able to lead all people from all kinds of beliefs and backgrounds, from your worldview as a believer? * Who do you keep around you to influence and encourage you in maintaining that line of faith in work? * How have your relationships with your children, and especially your wife, helped you become who you are today? * What is it about aviation that fires you up? * Do you have a favorite aircraft/favorite flight destination?
Closing Thoughts: * Let Brian know what you thought of his answers! * Is there anything you’d like to ask Brian about for an upcoming episode?
There are TWO things that paralyze people from realizing their God-given potential and destiny:
Fear and Limiting Beliefs.
As we continue this series of interviews with highly influential leaders, you now get to share in a conversation with my dear friend, John C. Morgan. You’re going to hear his story, how the odds were against him; how he faced his fear, and how he has now declared WAR on it.
I’m so blessed to have the connections and relationships I have in my life and business, and John is no exception. I know this interview with him will resonate so deeply with you, and I believe you will be encouraged, empowered, and emboldened to pursue your purpose. Be sure to connect with John from the links below and order his book. You won’t be sorry.
About John:
John is America’s number one George W. Bush Impersonator. He has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Entertainment Television, The Hannity Show, Fox News, CNN, and finished in the top four on the ABC reality show Next Best Thing.
John is a multi-award-winning impersonator in the hall of fame of celebrity lookalikes, but more importantly, he’s a passionate communicator who authentically shares how he escaped a prison of fear to launch his dreams of becoming a highly rated comedian and inspirational speaker.
John has made millions being a comedian, speaker and impersonator and his passion is to help you overcome your fears so you can live the life of your dreams.
Connect with John: John’s Website: Click Here Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Closing Thoughts: * Connect with John! * Are you ready to declare war on your fear?
This episode, I’m sharing how our unique wiring (personality, style, values, etc.) works with and for us to achieve our purpose.
You’ve heard it said many times, “Readers are leaders”
This is absolutely true, however, leading is about more than just filling your head with a lot of stuff; it is about really learning, and most importantly, implementing what you learn.
My guest today exemplifies what this looks like in every way! Jeff and I met earlier this year at a Ray Edwards event, and became fast friends. He is a wonderful leader, and has a beautiful heart.
Most notably, he is making a HUGE impact in our world.
I am incredibly excited to have him on the program. Let’s go right now to my exclusive interview with Jeff Brown.
About Jeff:
Jeff Brown is a podcaster, mentor and speaker who is passionate about helping others bridge the gap between intentionality and implementation.
He achieves this every day by sharing his professional insights, and the insights of successful people all over the world, on leadership, personal development, productivity, entrepreneurship and more through his blog, podcast, and through personal consulting and speaking.
Before beginning his highly-acclaimed, top-ranking Read to Lead podcast, he spent 26-years in radio.
He lives near Nashville, TN with his wife Annie, and two miniature Dachshunds, Fritz and Frank.
Jeff has interviewed a number of New York Times bestselling authors including John Maxwell, Seth Godin, Dan Miller, Daniel Pink, Simon Sinek, Chris Brogan (not once but twice), Gary Vaynerchuk and Liz Wiseman among others.
Connect with Jeff: Jeff’s Website: Click Here Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Closing Thoughts: * Connect with Jeff! * Were you inspired to read and lead?
Today we’re asking one of the most foundational, important questions you can ask on your life and leadership journey.
I am so excited today to introduce you to a long-time friend and colleague, Rhonda Geddis.
As you know, here at BrianHolmes.com, we are dedicated to transforming minds and developing leaders. Rhonda is not only a leader in her field, but she is truly a leader of leaders.
Her insights and acumen in the area of leadership transition, change management, and personal development are remarkable. Let’s get right to my conversation with the one and only Rhonda Geddis!
About Rhonda:
Rhonda Geddis is the Pathfinder. She can see what is possible in you and your organization. With her experience and exclusive ALIGN change mastery program, she helps you discover the way to reach your goals.
Ms. Geddis has been certified as an executive and business coach, but that has only confirmed the calling she’s always had: to help you find the path to your passion and purpose.
Recognized as a Leader of Leaders in corporate America, Rhonda Geddis utilizes her proprietary ALIGN program to propel personal clients and their organizations into arenas reserved for the successful elite.
Rhonda Geddis has a gift for clearing away the things that obstruct your vision. From one on one and group coaching to deploying a corporate cultural change management program, Rhonda offers online and in-person seminars, teleseminars and is available for speaking engagements. Connect with Rhonda: Rhonda’s Website: Click Here Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Closing Thoughts: * Connect with Rhonda! * Do you need that push to find your path?
Today we’re talking about forgiveness, the truth of what it is and isn’t, and why it’s so crucial to your success.
Several years ago, Kent Julian was a man with a plan, who unknowingly helped dramatically shift the course of my life. His role in my business, and in my life, is a significant one. He has helped so many others like me, and I’m so thrilled to have him as a guest on the program today.
I know you’ll benefit greatly from hearing what Kent has to offer, so tune in now to the conversation!
About Kent:
Kent Julian is a lot of things: crazy-in-love with his wife, proud father of three, professional speaker, successful entrepreneur, author, swim coach, fish-taco lover, and proud bald guy. But this wasn’t always the case.
He started out as an “at-risk” kid who couldn’t read in third grade and ended high school with SATs scores so low that he had to take Development Studies just to get into college—on probation. From these humble beginnings, he went on to graduate college cum laude and earned summa cum laude honors with his Master’s degree. After graduation, he led several youth organizations before eventually becoming the executive director of a national youth organization that served approximately 2,000 youth groups across the United States.
After 20 years in non-profit work, he did something crazy…he launched his own business. Now he speaks, writes, and consults students and leaders all over the world. You can find his work online in cool places like Entrepreneur.com, Success.com, HuffingtonPost.com, GoodMenProject.com, and more. He also hosts his own successful podcast called The Live It Forward Show with Kent Julian. Connect with Kent: Kent’s Website: Live It Forward Live It Forward Advance Conference, click HERE. (Be sure to enter your discount code when purchasing your admission: BRIAN) The Advance Conference is November 11-12th – Act now!!
Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn
Closing Thoughts: * Connect with Kent! * Make plans to attend his Live It Forward Advance in November. * You get a discount for being a member of our audience! (Enter the code “Brian” at checkout)
Today we’re talking about the limiting beliefs you may not realize you harbor, and how to overcome them.
If you’ve not heard our previous three episodes (#179, #181, #183, #185, #187, and #189) in this series on transition, I’d encourage you to give them a listen.
Transition is a reality of life, and we’ll face it several times over the course of our life. Graduating from one level to another takes faith, discipline, perseverance, strategy, and a big dose of patience.
In this final session on transition, I want to do three things:
- Review the 4 stages of transition
- Share 7 Keys to help you continue the journey toward MORE
- Activate your heart and mind to the possibilities still ahead of you.
Let’s get to work now, and let’s finish strong!
The Gist: Change is inevitable. What will you do with change when it comes to you? Transition is something we will all experience in life. It is a place between the way things used to be and the way they are becoming. It is the blank page between two chapters in a book. It is unchartered territory. It’s not where you have been, and it is not the full expression of where you are going. It is the place called BETWEEN.
7 Keys for Victory in Transition: 1. Learn to recognize when something’s season has come to an end. 2. Embrace change. 3. Let go of the past. 4. Identify the opportunities. 5. Concentrate on areas of growth. 6. Commit to your future. 7. Trust God. He makes all things new!
Closing Thoughts: * We believe in you! * Are you ready to pass through the between? * “Change is inevitable, progress is optional.” Tony Robbins
Today we’re talking about what the soul is, and why it’s so important to keep it healthy.
If you’ve not heard our previous three episodes (#179, #181, #183, #185, and #187) in this series on transition, I’d encourage you to give them a listen.
Today’s program is really where the rubber meets the road. In everything we’ve talked about so far, they won’t do any good if you don’t act, do, or engage. This is the critical point – you need to get in the game!
Today we’re talking about just that: Redeployment.
The Gist: Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines redeployment as follows: To transfer from one theater of operations to another; to move or allocate to a different position, use, function, or the like; reassign.
Redeployment is simply becoming activated and fully engaged in the reality of what the new season has offered you!
Something within you is not allowing you to: * Trust yourself * Believe that you can * Trust someone else * Dare to risk it all * Engage the game of life
It’s FEAR of: * Unknown * Unfamiliar * Failure * Success * Other’s opinions * Losing relationships * Getting hit!
It Is Time For Your Redeployment: 1. You know what to do. 2. You know your place. 3. You’ve worked hard to prepare. 4. Don’t get stuck. 5. GET IN THE GAME!
Overcoming Roadblocks: * Be clear on what you want. * Resolve you’re not going back. * Focus on what you discovered in the Reconnaissance stage. * Find someone who will hold you accountable. * Take action!
Closing Thoughts: * Where are you in the process of transition? * Are you beginning to see direction? * Identify ONE action step you can take in the next 24 hours. * Do it! * Get in the game.
If you’ve not heard our previous three episodes (#179, #181, #183, and #185) in this series on transition, I’d encourage you to give them a listen.
Change is not easy, but it is worth it if you’re willing to walk out the entire process. Once you’ve said “Yes!” to the process and have actively engaged the quest for your next level, the next stage in transition is Reconnaissance.
This episode includes how you can effectively and accurately discern and discover what has been waiting for you on the other side.
The Gist: Most of us think of the word “reconnaissance” in terms of military operations. Today, however, I’d like to look at it a little differently.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines reconnaissance as follows: To inspect, observe, or survey in order to gain information, clarification, and ultimately clear strategy.
This speaks so powerfully to how our future is often revealed to us in sections, compartments, and even in the context of collaboration and relationship. In the specific context of transition, reconnaissance serves as the active pursuit of gathering information, seeking clarity, discovering new opportunities and areas of possibility, and connecting with new people.
Data Sets We Search For: * Identifying Passions * Relationships * Beliefs * Environments * Opportunities * Possibilities * Seasons of life * Etc.
Your Reconnaissance Strategy: 1. The YOU Factor 2. The OTHERS Factor 3. The GOD Factor
Closing Thoughts: * You are called to transition for the purpose of going to a higher level of life, leadership, and effectiveness. * The process is not always easy. * Stay firm in your commitment to the journey you’ve embarked on. * Do the work necessary. * Find a coach or mentor who can help you navigate through the various stages.
Today I lay the foundation and framework for the 4 Cornerstones. Listen and settle in as we start a brief series on how these 4 Cornerstones can transform your life.
If you’ve not heard our previous three episodes (#179, #181 and #183) in this series on transition, I’d encourage you to give them a listen.
So far in our sessions, we’ve covered the fact change is inevitable. Transition is an absolute in our life, but how we deal with it varies tremendously. In order to experience a meaningful – and successful – transition, there are four stages each person needs to walk through. We’ve uncovered the first stage of Discontent, and today, we’re talking about stage two: Disconnect.
The Gist: There is a stark reality of being emotionally tethered to unhealthy relationships, careers, or environments. We are connecting, collaborative people! It’s natural and normal to become engaged with people, ideas, and contexts with which we carry out our daily lives. However, if you’re being pulled in a new direction and if the state you’re presently in is no longer satisfying, a healthy crisis is about to ensue.
That said, you’ll be faced with the oftentimes challenging task of letting go, leaving behind, or DISCONNECTING from those things.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines disconnect as follows: To separate something from something else; to break a connection between two or more things. To sever the connection of or between. To terminate a connection. To become detached from or to withdraw.
Things You May Have To Disconnect From: * Relationships * Roles/Titles/Sense of Identity * Affiliations * People-pleasing (a must!)
7 Things To Know About The Process of Disconnecting: 1. What was excellent on the previous level is mediocre (at best) on the new level. 2. Not every relationship will follow you through transition. 3. Most people need you to be the same person they’ve always known you to be. 4. Your worth and value are not deteremined by the role or title you fill. 5. Disconnecting does not require you to deny the blessings, benefits, or value from your previous season of life. 6. Give yourself permission to grieve. 7. If you refuse to disconnect from what’s anchoring you to your past, you’ll be stuck in discontent.
Closing Thoughts: * Are you faced with the opportunity to disconnect from someone? Something? * Disconnect is no easy feat, but it is entirely necessary. * Wherever you are in this process, be encouraged! * You will find the strength and courage to get through on the other side. * Next week – Reconaissance.
If you’ve not heard our previous two episodes (#179 and #181) in this series on transition, I’d encourage you to give them a listen, as I’m confident they will increase your understanding for what we’re going to unpack today.
So far in this series, we have laid a solid foundation for understanding what transition is, and shared an overview of the four stages of transition and their importance in this process.
We want to dive a little deeper and begin to unpack each of the four stages so you can better understand the need, significance, nuances and indicators of entering transition
In this session, we will be dealing with stage #1, and talking about the uncomfortable yet necessary feeling of DISCONTENT.
The Gist: The attitude or condition of discontent is generally looked upon in a less-than-positive light, and as a result, a culture and prevailing mindset have locked people into their present circumstances, and multitudes have gone to their graves never having discovered what was possible beyond discontent.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines discontent as follows: Restless aspiration for improvement or change; The condition of not being satisfied.
10 Indicators of Discontent: 1. An inner awareness something is calling you 2. An insatiable (yet healthy) desire for something fresh, new, and more fulfilling 3. A real sense of possibility, but … 4. No idea what it is or how to engage it 5. The evident lack of passion for your current situation 6. An elevated need to find fault and criticize 7. A lack of motivation or drive 8. Loss or decline in creativity 9. Borderline (or full on) depression (weight gain, etc.) 10. Self-imposed isolation (the cave)
5 Things You Can Do To Leverage Discontent: 1. Fully embrace it as your friend 2. Give in to the “new thing” tugging on your heart 3. Say yes to the possibility of a different and more fulfilling future 4. Release yourself from the need to figure it out 5. Commit to the process, and take it one day at a time
“Living things grow, and growing things change” ~ Unknown
Closing Thoughts: * Are you sensing a deep sense of discontent or dissatisfaction? * Are you lacking the passion and drive you once had? * Are you lethargic or even depressed? * On a more positive note, are you hungry for MORE, and are you feeling something new calling to you? * Stay plugged in, and stay tuned * Remember, discontent is your friend! * Embrace it, walk it out, and you will successfully transition to stage #2. * Next week … DISCONNECT
In this episode, I’m explaining how to get serious about getting stuff done: If It’s Not On The Calendar, It Ain’t Happening.
Last week, we started a new series on transition. Have you ever struggled in dealing with change? I’ve had an overwhelming response from people requesting help and coaching through transition in their life. This is a huge issue impacting leaders all over the world, and why I want to bring this expanded teaching.
We began this new training series exploring what transition really is, why so many people find themselves in it, and how most struggle to successfully move through it. This week, we’ll dig deeper.
At the end of the episode, be sure to stay tuned for a special offer and information about how you and I may be able to work together.
Let’s go right now to session TWO of our series on Transition.
The Gist: In this session we’ll explore how you can successfully:
- Identify when you are entering transition
- Leverage the discomfort of engaging the process
- Manage the minutia of separating from the old
- Open your eyes to the existing possibilities
- Fully engage your new season
If you’re somewhere between where you’ve been and where you dream of being, this session will give you a framework to help you navigate your transition.
4 Stages of Transition: * Discontent * Disconnect * Reconnaissance * Re-deploy
Discontent: This first stage is often evidenced by the emergence of a deep desire for something new, different, or something more. The challenge lies in not having an idea of what the “new thing” is. The sense of possibility causes the present state to become lack-luster.
Disconnect: This second stage is especially challenging, as it requires us to leave the comfort of what is familiar to us, and step into the unknown. Since it is impossible to embrace the new while holding firmly to the old, you must intentionally disconnect from people, places, or even ideas, that won’t serve your next, new season.
Reconnaissance: Defined, this means “to inspect, observe, or survey in order to gain information, clarification, and ultimate strategy.” What a powerful picture of how our future is often revealed to us in sections, even in the context of collaboration and relationships. This is really about pursuit and persistence in seeking clarity and purpose.
Redeployment: Transition has no set timetable. At some point, you will have enough clarity to begin again, and then to become active in the purpose for which the transition was necessary. This fourth stage has you possessing the confidence and clarity to leave the safety of the sidelines and pursue the goal of your end-game.
“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the OLD, but on building the NEW.” ~ Socrates
Closing Thoughts: * If you find yourself in the middle of an uncomfortable place … you may be in transition. * If you sense you are ready for a change but are unsure of how to even pursue the possibilities, you may be in transition. * If you are discontent or feeling diminishing passion for the work you are doing, you may be in transition. * This series will help you … I guarantee it. * Stay plugged in, and stay tuned. * There is passage and there is hope!
As you know, I travel the globe teaching, training, and sharing with leaders from all walks of life. In all my traveling over the years, I can’t remember a time when I’ve seen so many people in the throes of transition.
I recently gave a TED-like talk at an event in Tennessee and decided it would be appropriate to share some of the concepts on transition in this podcast series. My talk was relatively short but really resonated with many of the attendees. During the break, I was inundated by people asking for my card. My email has also blown up, and people are genuinely seeking help as they navigate the often uncomfortable and unfamiliar territory transition brings.
Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at transition from a number of perspectives:
- What is transition?.
- How do I know if I am in it?.
- The 4 Stages of Transition
- Specific tips and tricks to help you successfully navigate through to the other side.
- Lessons I’ve learned in my own life transition events
- And so much more.
At the end of the episode, stay tuned for a special offer and information about how you and I may be able to work together.
The Gist: Staying comfortable is staying stuck. Instead, pursue what is available to you, and deal even with the unknown. To circumvent the natural seasons of life, or to refuse to allow your life to organically move in the direction of destiny is to choose to die. When something’s season has come to an end, to continue living in that season’s glory will lead to frustration and even sometimes, dramatic failure.
What is the answer? * Effectively recognize and successfully navigate seasons of transition.
7 Challenges of Transition: * Unwillingness to recognize or acknowledge the end of a season * Inability to bury the past * Fear of the unknown * Personal worth/self-esteem issues * Fear of losing relationships * Developing the new discipline of dreaming again * Walking by faith and not by sight
Closing Thoughts: * If you find yourself in the middle of an uncomfortable place … you may be in transition. * If you sense you are ready for a change but are unsure of how to even pursue the possibilities, you may be in transition. * If you are discontent or feeling diminishing passion for the work you are doing, you may be in transition. * This series will help you … I guarantee it. * Stay plugged in, and stay tuned. * There is passage and there is hope!
In this episode, I’m explaining why it’s so important to Never Underestimate The Power of One Relationship.
We’ve spent the last several weeks unpacking some training during our podcast, and I trust you’ve found tremendous value in the materials we’ve shared over the last month.
Today, I’m taking a slight detour from the training track and am sharing an interview with a dear friend and colleague about life, failure, and starting over. Dr. Phil Carson and I go back quite a ways, and I know his story will touch you and inspire you.
I’m thrilled to introduce Dr. Phil Carson to the Brian Holmes community today!
About Dr. Carson: Phillip Carson, President of Carson Natural Health, LLC is a Pharmacist who thinks outside the box of traditional medicine. He believes in helping people find natural alternatives and integrative nutritional solutions to their health problems. He is committed to leading people to finding the root cause of their health problems and not just treating the symptoms. Phillip is passionate about encouraging and teaching people how to live more balanced, healthier and vibrant lives. He believes in equipping people with the knowledge to make the right choices for optimal health.
Phillip Carson a Registered Pharmacist, Doctor of Pharmacy with license in MS and TN is a 1985 graduate of the University of MS School of Pharmacy. Since earning his degree in Pharmacy Phillip has been certified as a Compounding Pharmacist, a Diabetes Care Pharmacist and most recently a Consulting Pharmacist. Phillip has also earned certifications in Lipid Management, Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). He has earned numerous certifications in Natural and Alternative Medicine Therapies for weight loss, fibromyalgia, ADD/ADHD and many other health conditions.
Dr. Phil, as he is often referred to by his clients, has spoken to many groups, churches and organizations over the years and enjoys sharing the message about how alternative therapies changed his own health as well as the hundreds of individuals he has counseled with and coached to better health.
Believing in and promoting healthy marriages and families as well, Phillip and his wife Kim have been married for over 30 years and have 5 happy and healthy children.
For more information about Dr. Phil Carson’s work, please visit his website at: carsonnatural.com Tidbits From Dr. Phil Carson: Too many Americans are living as prisoners in their own bodies, held captive by bad habits that have drained them of their livelihood and sentenced them to a premature death. These harsh realities are what have kept Dr. Phil Carson passionate about practicing pharmacy since 1985.
After encountering many patients who were seeking answers when their needs were not met by traditional medicine, Dr. Phil founded Carson Natural Health in 2005 with the mission of helping patients find the best natural solutions to their health problems.
Dr. Phil is passionate about improving his patient’s quality of life and encouraging everyone he comes in contact with to live healthier lives and transform their overall health into a blessing, not a burden. Dr. Phil Carson knows how to help people get the most out of their life by working together with them to uncover the root cause of their health issues.
Patients come to him with problems and leave with renewed hope that they can be healthy again. A practicing pharmacist in the Southeast, since 1985 he has not only consistently improved many patients quality of life, but also literally saved a few of them.
• Founder of Carson Natural Health in 2005
• Co-founder of the Life Transformation Medical Center
• Certified Diabetes Care Pharmacist
• Certified Consultant Pharmacist
• Certified Lifestyle Coach
• Certified 48 Days Coach
Closing Thoughts: * Plug into all Dr. Phil Carson has to offer at carsonnatural.com * Don’t let your failure rob you of your future!
In this episode, I’m unpacking the old saying When the Student is Ready, the Teacher Appears.
We’re already in the fifth week of our series, and I am confident you’re finding value in it. We’ve discussed Personal Healing, Personal Discovery, and Personal Development to date. Today, we’ll be unlocking the fourth and final cornerstone: Personal Deployment.
After all of your practice and planning, there comes a time for actually playing in the game. What happens when you are mentally ready, clear on your purpose and role, have a perfect game plan and are finally suited up? The whole world is in the grandstands, waiting for your game to begin.
Take the field!
The Gist: You’ve prepared, you’ve planned, and you know exactly what you need to do. Now is the time to get in the game, and actually do it.
What About You? * Are you engaging in the activities associated with what you were created to do?
Personal Deployment: * Personal deployment is about ACTIVATION. * It is essential to GET IN THE GAME. * ENGAGE in the work. * Hit the field, play your position, make your impact, and start winning at your game. No more armchair quarterbacking! * To be engaged, you must move beyond your fears. * What do you have to offer? * What solutions are you called to create? * What people group is waiting for you to change their lives? * It is your time for deployment.
Closing Thoughts: * What’s keeping you from engaging RIGHT NOW? * What are you waiting for? * Write that book. * Ship that product. * Start that business. * Launch that ministry.
In this episode, I’m talking about Your Leadership Credibility Account & How To Maintain a Healthy Balance.
It seems these days more value is placed on entertainment and recreation than is placed on tools and resources to enhance one’s personal development.
This is really a shame, because if we are going to continue to enlarge our capacity, expand our reach, grow our impact, etc. – we must also grow in knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and competencies!
Today we’re unpacking the third of our 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living: Personal Development.
The Gist: Growing our influence and our capacity only comes by practicing the discipline of personal development. Learning and developing is a continual, ongoing process.
What About You? * Are you actively and intentionally growing your mind?
Ways to Pursue Personal Development: * Read! Be a reader. “Readers are leaders.” * Pursue knowledge at all levels. Attend in-person or online courses, seminars, etc. Educate yourself. * Surround yourself with people who are where you desire to be. Soak up their influence and wisdom and learn from their successes and mistakes. * Hire a coach or mentor. Invest in the insight of others, and you’ll take it to heart! * Attend conferences related to your passion. Show up and network with other attendees, develop relationships, and watch the doors of opportunity open. * Listen. Listen to audio programs, speakers, etc. that will fill your mind positively and aid in growing your understanding.
Closing Thoughts: * What percentage of your personal budget will you allocate for your personal development? * Take an inventory of your life. * What areas need to be strengthened? * What knowledge do you need to acquire? * What qualities do you need to strengthen in your leadership and in your life? * What are your greatest strengths and aptitudes?
In this episode, I’m talking about being 5 Categories of Daily Input I Strongly Recommend.
One of the greatest tragedies of our generation is so many people die without ever having discovered who they are, or why they were put here.
Over the many years, I’ve worked with people, I’m sad to say a very small percentage of them ever discover and unlock their God-given destiny and potential.
This doesn’t have to be the way it is! There is a way to discover your identity, purpose, ad life’s calling, and believe me when I say it’s not difficult. It does, however, take intentionality and time.
This session shares several components of the identity matrix, and how you can gain clarity, understanding, and confidence by engaging the processes we layout in this program.
The Gist: In order to accomplish your life’s work, you must first discover who you are and how you can find – and run in – your lane of life.
What About You? * Can you answer, “Who am I, and why am I here?”
Believe: * Every person is born with a very unique design, assignment, and purpose. * Every person inherently possesses a particular thing with which they can contribute to life. * You have the capacity to do great things. * We are conditioned to dismiss possibility. * Life conditions us to expect less than what is really possible. * Overcome restrictive beliefs! * IN order to reclaim your purpose, a reboot is in order. * What you believe to be true about your potential, worth, and values is exactly what you will experience.
The Identity Matrix: * Understand how you’re wired. * Understand your strengths. * Identify your core values. * Cultivate and clarifty your vision. * Strategic planning and execution.
Closing Thoughts: * What is your primary and secondary personality style? * What are your deepest passions? * What are the dreams and desires of your heart? * What ideas or aspirations have you entertained? * What are your greatest strengths and aptitudes? * What are your top 5 skills and abilities? * If money were no option, what would you do with your time and resources? * If you knew you could not fail, what would you accomplish in your life?
In this episode, I’m talking about being Magical Mornings and the Art of Leading Your Day.
Last week, we introduced a new format for our podcast, taking a more systematic approach in our objective to develop leaders. We shifted to a series-based training format, and I’m still so excited and know it will be of great benefit to you.
We started with an introduction to the four cornerstones for strategic living. Today, we’re going to discuss the first cornerstone in this development philosophy: Personal Healing.
The Gist: If we’re going to have success, it will be because we lived life strategically: on purpose, with intentionality. We cannot do that without first addressing any unresolved issues or areas in our lives that need to experience healing.
What About You? * Have you avoided reconciling issues, relationships, or circumstances that once caused you pain? * Are you willing to admit these unresolved points in life may be hindering your potential?
Possible Areas of Brokenness: * Abandonment * Divorce (Parents or self) * Rejection * Sexual/emotional/spiritual/verbal abuse * Catastrophic failure * Absence of a father-figure * Lack of affirmation or personal value nurturing * Too much too soon * Poor models of intimacy in relationship * Betrayal * Limiting beliefs
7 Steps to Personal Healing: * Acknowledge + You cannot change what you’re not willing to acknowledge. ~ Phil McGraw * Confess it + Bring it into the light and render it powerless to continue to affect you. * Resolve + Give yourself permission to face it. * Forgive and release + Most pain we experience in life is a result of someone else imposing that pain on us. * Pray + Ask God to meet you in the moment. * Receive + You have to be open to receive healing. * Live the life you were created to. + Live free
Closing Thoughts: * What is it in YOUR heart hat needs to be healed and reconciled? * Is there unresolved hurt or pain that your have avoided or refused to address? * Are there things you would rather not think about or deal with?
In this episode, I’m talking about being UNPLUGGED: Why I’ve Stopped Consuming News And Other Nonsense.
I’m so excited to begin a new format on our podcast, starting with this episode. We’re going to be giving you some of our prime content and enter into what I call “training mode”, giving you more of what we share when we travel with our message all over the world.
Today, I’m going to be giving you the introduction to my 4 Cornerstones For Strategic Living, and what it means for you to begin building your strategic life.
The Gist: Most people seem to be living their lives on autopilot, and struggle to live intentionally. It seems there is a general consensus of a lack of joy, lack of fulfillment, and lack of purpose.
What About You? * Are you struggling with your current situation? * Do you want to know where you’re heading and how you’re going to get there?
Focus: * Don’t just make a living. Make a life, and leave a legacy. * Pursue strategic living. * Reject the status quo – you can do more! * Live your life on purpose.
Planning Ahead: * Think through your next steps and what you envision for the next several years. * Do you know (and understand) who you are and why you’re here? * What is your unique purpose for which you were created? * What people group (niche market) are you called to contribute to?
Take Aways: * Living strategically means engaging purposefully in the intentional process of growing, becoming, and actively pursuing the very thing for which you were created. * Every area of your life depends on your strategic approach to it. * Your success is directly proportionate to your strategic life plan. * Start with writing your vision down, and map your strategic plan to achieve it.
Coming Up: * How to develop a strategic approach * How to formulate a mindset, discipline, and process for creating your strategic life * In-depth look at each of the 4 Cornerstones of Strategic Living: + Personal Healing + Personal Discovery + Personal Development + Personal Deployment (Destiny Activation)
Closing Thoughts: * What life do you want for yourself, and who do you want to go with you? * Write down your vision and your goals. Put pen to paper! * Decide right now: what do you want from 1) this course and 2) your life as a whole?
In this episode, I’m talking about the third and final principle of The L3 Philosophy, which is to Lead Well.
Ray Edwards is the host of The Ray Edwards Show, a top-rated podcast about living in prosperity on purpose, and he provides rich content on life, leadership, business, marketing, and relating with God.
Ray and I have become wonderful friends over the last few years, and I have come to both respect him as a business leader and as a man of God.
Ray is a tremendous thought leader, a brilliant business coach, a thoughtful mentor, and a highly respected leader, making a significant impact.
In this episode, Ray and I discuss Life, Leadership, and Prospering with Purpose.
About Ray: Ray is probably best known as a Direct Response Copywriter, Product Launch Manager, Internet Marketing Strategist and conference speaker. Campaigns he’s written and/or directed have resulted in an estimated $100 million in sales.
He’s had the good fortune to working with (and learning from) some stellar clients, including New York Times Best-selling authors Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul), Joel Comm (author of Twitter Power and The Adsense Code), Raymond Aaron (author of Double Your Income Doing What You Love) as well as Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Jeff Walker, and many others.
Ray speaks frequently at seminars and conferences on copywriting, promotions and marketing, for professionals in those fields.
For more information about Ray’s work, please visit his website at: www.RayEdwards.com
What’s on Ray’s Radar? 1. Hunger for More: People in general have a hunger for pursuing what’s possible in life. There is – and can be – more than what they’re experiencing right now. 2. Helping: We have an inborn desire to serve, help, and come alongside others, especially in their times of dire need. 3. Health: People long to be better stewards of their minds and bodies. 1. Hans Rosling Ted Talk “The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen” 2. Book: The Improving State of the World
Ray’s Take on Masterminds: Every leader/business owner needs to be a part of three different mastermind groups:
- A free group made up of peers
- A group you pay to be a member of, learning from others
- A group you LEAD and share your expertise
Leadership and Life Principles: * Treat people the way you want to be treated. Whatever you want men to do or give to you, give or do to them BEFORE they do it to you! (Luke 6:31) * If you want to be great, you have to be a servant. (Matthew 6:20) * If you want to be exalted, you have to be humble. (Luke 14:11) * “He who thinks he leads but has no followers is only taking a walk.” ~ John Maxwell
Closing Thoughts: * Plug into all Ray has to offer at RayEdwards.com * You are an emerging leader and the world is waiting for you to show up!
In this episode, I’m talking about the second principle of The L3 Philosophy, which is to Love Deep.
Over the course of history, even the most significant leaders of our generation have been faced with incredibly difficult or challenging circumstances. These leaders have shown themselves above the others because they demonstrated the will and heart to innovate and lead without reservation.
There is a notable difference in positional leaders (managers) and genuine leaders. These real, genuine leaders tend to challenge the status quo and make it their life’s work to blaze new trails. These leaders leave the world a better place than it was before.
Today, I want to explore some of the things that make a genuine leader so very special.
Let’s start talking about 10 Things Real Leaders Do To Challenge The Status Quo.
10 Things Real Leaders Do To Challenge The Status Quo: 1. They embrace discontent and the desire for more. 2. They exercise faith in the unseen, knowing that the answers and solutions exist. 3. They refuse to accept what everyone else considers “normal”. 4. They never settle for the “it’s never been done” excuse. 5. They rely on innovation and collaboration which ultimately leads them to revelation and realization. 6. They are willing to be criticized, misunderstood, or even ridiculed on their way to achieving the next level. 7. They insulate themselves from negativity and surround themselves with possibility thinkers. 8. They don’t complain about the way things are, they busy themselves creating the world they desire to live in. 9. They stare failure in the face, and try new things anyway. 10. They never quit until the dream is realized.
What About You? * The world needs leaders who challenge the status quo!
Closing Thoughts: * What problem can you solve with your above-average leadership? * What solutions exist that are yet to be discovered? * Are you willing to challenge what everyone around you has accepted as normal? * Can you/will you adopt these qualities and traits great leaders always engage in?
In this episode, I’m talking about the first principle of The L3 Philosophy, which is to Live Big.
Recently, I’ve noticed I’m increasingly emotionally and spiritually toxic. I’m easily agitated and find I entertain fear and worry more than before. My usual hope-centered self has been clouded by gloom and doom.
But why? How? Have I changed? Looking closely at this and asking God to help me understand what’s going on inside, I’ve come to the answer I am infected.
A present-day cultural disease has fundamentally affected my spirit, soul, and even my physical body. Therefore, I’ve decided to make some radical adjustments to my normal activities and exposures. I want to invite you to consider joining me on Project Detox: My 90-Day Quest for a Healthier Mind, Body, and Spirit.
The Gist: We have so many mediums through which we contract our “informational infection”. A few of them are:
- News broadcasts
- Online news sites
- Television shows (featuring crime, death, degraded culture, etc.)
- Radio programs
- Billboards
- Fear-based advertising/marketing
- Talk shows
- Day-to-day conversations (with negative people or centered on negative topics)
- Workplace debates
Changing The Rules Of The Game: * Taking myself out of the field of play. * Refusing to be a willing spectator any longer. * Taking control of my mind and heart. * Reclaiming sanctity of the environment I live in. * Turning off the noise, and being intentionally selective of the inputs I allow into my spirit and mind.
Remember G.I.G.O! (Garbage In – Garbage Out!)
3 Precursors to a Successful Detox: * Recognize and acknowledge your current condition. * Decide to no longer be a willing consumer of toxic inputs and agendas. * Identify specific channels you must unplug from in order to achieve a spiritual and emotional detox.
The Detox Rx: Detox involves both elimination and replacement. While purging the system of all the negative elements, it is essential to replace them with healthy, beneficial, nutrient-rich elements. The same is true in this kind of detox.
For the next 90-days (and possibly beyond!) I will be eliminating the following items from my life:
- All news or journalistic inputs (TV, Radio, and Internet)
- All Radio Talk Show Programs
- All E-Mail Subscriptions/Updates that are unrelated to my business and personal life (I am unsubscribing!)
- All television shows (No TV for 90 days)
- All social conversations about politics, world affairs, the economy, etc. (I will NOT participate)
- All social interactions where I would be around negative, fear-driven people
- If necessary, suspend relationships with people who are themselves toxic
As important is my plan for REPLACING these negative inputs with positive, life building ones.
The Replacement Regimen: Here are the positive, beneficial elements I’ll be refueling myself with instead:
- Daily Bible Reading: Audio Bible App
- Daily sermon (Andrew Wommack, Lance Wallnau, Bill Johnson, others)
- Worship Time
- Daily book reading (Audible/Kindle Combo)
- Daily personal development program (Jim Rohn, Les Brown, Earl Nightengale, Brian Tracy, others)
- Mastermind Input and Accountability
- Time with positive and balanced friends and family
What About You? * Are you immersed in toxic ramblings of the political world? * Are you addicted to negative news cycles and consequently being intoxicated with fear, hopelessness, and strife? * Are you constantly taking in visual or audible stimulation that causes your mind to dwell on the bad in this world? * Are you escaping life by immersing yourself in television dramas and entertainment? * How is your heart? How is your attitude? * Are you being honest with yourself about your current mental, emotional, and spiritual state? * Do you need a break? * Are you in need of a real DETOX?
Closing Thoughts: * Remember Philippians 4:4-8: + Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
I had the privilege of meeting Jonathan at one of Michael Hyatt’s conferences in Colorado. Jonathan has had an incredible impact in the online, entrepreneurial, and blogging worlds. He is a good friend, wonderful leader, and definitely someone you’ll want to get to know.
I’ve been following Jonathan’s platform for quite some time and have always loved his insight in passion, productivity, and leadership in general.
Let’s get right to my interview with Jonathan, where we unpack When Passion, Purpose, and Service Collide.
Introducing Jonathan Milligan: Jonathan Milligan is an author, blogger, speaker, and career coach. He has spent the last decade counseling, guiding, and directing career professionals on how to pursue meaningful work.
Since 2009, Jonathan has been building a portable, lifestyle business through blogging. Today, he teaches others the roadmap to doing the same.
His two primary blogs are:
- JonathanMilligan.com
- BloggingYourPassion.com
Jonathan is also active in his local church, serving as a Deacon and leader of the hospitality ministry. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife and two kids.
If you’d like to learn the blueprint he has used to help others create work they love, visit his website today!
Take Aways: * Don’t start something online because it makes money. Start something online because it’s an area you can truly help people. * Insight leads to impact which leads to income. * Serving others will benefit you far more than any other business decision you make. * Your passion drives your purpose which can determine your path.
If you want to connect with Jonathan: Website: JonathanMilligan.com Twitter: @JonMilligan Facebook: Jonathan Milligan LinkedIn: Jonathan Milligan
You’ve heard me say previously, “Life is lived on levels and experienced in stages.” Let me add on to that today in saying: what was excellent on the previous level is mediocre at best when you arrive at the next level.
How many of you would consider yourselves in a place today, where you realize what you’ve brought to where you are may not get you where you want to go?
Today, I’m sharing four things I’m certain we all must have if we’re going to make the jump to our next level of success. Here is my exclusive list of 4 Things You Must Have To Achieve Your Next Level Of Success.
The Gist: I want to be clear in saying the four things I share today are essential factors for our success, however, each person has to examine their own situation and determine how to go about facilitating change and progress.
This includes taking a close look at:
- Relationships
- Habits
- Beliefs and Attitudes
- Context and setting
- And so many others
What are the four things?
- Innovation
- Collaboration
- Determination
- Accountability
Innovation: * Innovation frees us to create. * Innovation fosters the advent of revolutionary solutions * Innovation changes generations. * We often become the prisoners of the status quo. * Innovation chooses to break the mold.
Collaboration: * Collaboration is the process of two or more people or organizations working together to realize shared goals. * It is the act of working jointly with others in intellectual and practical endeavors. * It is the process of coming together in community around the common goal of each person being better, accomplishing more, and achieving together. * One of the biggest hurdles we must overcome if we are to take our lives to the next level is our cultural bent to isolation and working alone * The greatest innovators and companies in the modern era are ones that bring together diverse groups of people, and allow them the creative freedom to collaborate and solve problems.
Determination: * Determination is a DECISION that settles and ends the controversy. * It is a firm, definite, and final calculation that leads to movement and change. * You cannot go to the next level if you can’t make the DECISION.
Accountability: * Accountability is quite literally the willingness to answer to someone for your actions, commitments, and attitudes. * If you have no one in your life that can call you on the carpet, you are going nowhere. * Who do you have in your life that you have given permission to hold you accountable?
In Summation: These four things validate the real value in the Mastermind.
Check out Podcast Episode #153
If you want more information on this incredible opportunity, go to: BrianHolmes.com/mastermind NOTE:
- There is an application and interview process.
- Not everyone will be accepted.
- This is a PAID mastermind group.
- There is a significant investment for membership in the SIMM group.
We look forward to having you join us on THE NEXT LEVEL!
Closing Thoughts: * You can continue to do what you have always done, and you will continue to have what you have right now. * If you are ready to take your life and your leadership to the next level, join us. * We would be honored to have you in the mastermind!
In this episode, I talk about the prioritized order of God, Family, Friends, Followers.
I cannot begin to tell you how fantastic this episode was for me to record, and I hope you’ll find it as encouraging and powerful to listen to.
Dr. Joey Faucette and I crossed paths last year and have developed and maintained an incredible friendship and mentorship. I am so blessed to be able to call him my friend and am so excited to be able to introduce you all to him today.
Let’s get right to my interview with Dr. Joey, talking about how to Live Positive In A Negative World.
Introducing Dr. Joey Faucette: Dr. Joey Faucette is the author of two #1 best-sellers, Faith Positive in a Negative World (with Mike Van Vranken) and Work Positive in a Negative World (Entrepreneur Press).
He is the founder of Listen to Life, Too, a company that coaches people to redefine their reality and fulfill their dreams. His coaching programs include 7 Weeks to Faith Positive, the Faith Positive Master Coaching Program, 7 Weeks to Work Positive, and the Work Positive Master Coaching Program which are available from www.GetPositive.Today.
He co-hosts the popular, twice-weekly podcast, Faith Positive Radio, with Mike Van Vranken as well as the daily podcast, Live Positive. His blogs are read in over 50 countries.
Dr. Joey coaches and speaks to Christian business professionals who want to:
increase their faith with greater joy at work *so they love God and others more.
He coaches and speaks to business professionals who discover these value-added returns on their investments:
increase sales with greater team productivity *so they get out of the office earlier to do what they love with those they love.
Dr. Joey has appeared as a guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows across North America in most major markets. He has written over 1,000 articles that have appeared on Wall Street Journal Money Watch, CNBC, Dallas Morning News, Sacramento Bee, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo Finance, and countless other websites.
Dr. Joey’s career spans 30 years as an ordained minister, including 20 years pastoring local churches, and 20 years in business and as an entrepreneur. He and his wife have two adult daughters and enjoy living on Pleasant Gap Farm with their three dogs, two quarter horses, and two cats—Boo Radley and Atticus Finch.
Take Aways: * You are in control of what you consume, especially with regard to news and media. * News directors and editors are in business to monetize negativity. * It is not only possible, but you’re in the driver’s seat to live positive! * We can’t change the negativity around us, but we can change how we let it impact us.
If you want to connect with Dr. Joey Faucette: Website: GetPositive.Today Twitter: @DrJoey Facebook: Faith Positive In A Negative World LinkedIn: Dr. Joey Faucette 1-877-4DR-JOEY (1-877-437-5639)
Today is a very special day for us here! I’m very excited to share what we’re launching for you – the emerging leaders, business owners, church leaders, solo-preneurs, artists, and ANYONE who desire to take their life, business, and leadership to the next level.
We’re launching our Strategic Influencers Mastermind group! Many of you are familiar with the concept and function of a mastermind group, though others of you may not be. I’m going to share the vision, concept, value, and practical functions of the mastermind.
Today we’ll answer:
- What is a mastermind group?
- Where did the idea come from?
- What does a mastermind do?
- How can it benefit you and your business?
- Why should every aspiring leader be a part of a mastermind program?
- And so much more
Let’s get right into discussing The Strategic Influencers Mastermind: Next Level Collaboration for Emerging Leaders.
What Is A Mastermind? * Mastermind groups offer a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen your business and personal skills. * A mastermind group helps you and your mastermind group members achieve more success. * Participants challenge each other to set powerful goals, and more importantly, to accomplish them. * The group requires commitment, confidentiality, willingness to both give and receive advice and ideas, and support each other with total honesty, respect, and compassion. * Mastermind group members act as catalysts for growth and supportive colleagues. * The concept of the “mastermind alliance” was formally introduced by Napoleon Hill in his timeless classic, “Think And Grow Rich,” though mastermind groups have been around since the beginning of time. * Even Benjamin Franklin belonged to such a group, which he called a Junto.
The Benefits of Belonging to a Mastermind Group: * In a mastermind group, the agenda belongs to the group and each person’s participation and commitment is key * Your mastermind partners give you feedback, help you brainstorm new possibilities * The mastermind provides accountability structures that keep you focused and on track * You create a community of supportive colleagues who brainstorm together to move the members to new heights * You’ll gain tremendous insights which improve your business and personal life * Your mastermind group is like having an objective board of directors, a success team, and a peer advisory group, all rolled into one.
The Strategic Influencers Mastermind Group: What are we looking for? * You have a burning desire to elevate your life and leadership. * You’re working full time on your business or are close to making that move. * You recognize your need to have others speak into your life and situation, * You are committed to adding value to others in the group * You are able to commit to a weekly online mastermind group meeting. * You are willing and able to commit to attending 2-3 “in-person” meetings each calendar year. * You are able and willing to invest financially in your mastermind membership
(More information and guidelines will be provided to you in your personal interview)
When Will We Meet? Every Wednesday
- 2pm Central
- 3pm Eastern
- Noon Pacific
Where Do We Meet? Weekly (Online) Meetings
Our primary and most consistent method for meeting is online. The wonderful thing about this is you can be anywhere as long as you have a quality internet connection. Your geographical location is not important, but your presence on the video conference is.
Each week we meet on the same day and at the same time. We use a well-respected and dependable service called ZOOM.
In-Person Intensives
We will conduct two to three in-person meetings each calendar year. The format of these will vary from meeting to meeting, however, they are a very different experience than our weekly calls.
Each LIVE meeting will consist of 2 1/2 days of training, processes, and high-level mastermind exercises designed to generate a 10X outcome in your life, business, ministry, or mission. Each member will have extensive “hot seat” time, and will leave the meeting with a strategy and actionable plan.
If you want more information on this incredible opportunity, go to: BrianHolmes.com/mastermind NOTE:
- There is an application and interview process.
- Not everyone will be accepted.
- This is a PAID mastermind group.
- There is a significant investment for membership in the SIMM group.
Again, If you want more information on this incredible opportunity, go to:
BrianHolmes.com/mastermind We look forward to having you join us on THE NEXT LEVEL!
Closing Thoughts: * You can continue to do what you have always done, and you will continue to have what you have right now. * If you are ready to take your life and your leadership to the next level, join us. * We would be honored to have you in the mastermind!
Someone once said it’s the ultimate blessing if in a lifetime they have a few good friends. That statement is so true, yet in our culture today, what we call “friendships” barely qualify as acquaintances.
We’re so busy, we rarely take time to really do life with others. When faced with challenging times, so many of us find ourselves isolated. Why? Because there is a lack of investment in real friendships!
You are designed for relationship, partnership, and accountability. We all need people in our life who will love and challenge us to reach for the next level. This is why we’re going to talk about being Surrounded: The Value of Real Friends and Why You Need Them.
The Gist: Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” Think about that! Every area of your life will ultimately look like the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Ask yourself:
- Do I want what they have, or do I want more?
- Do I like what I see in their marriage, or do I want better?
- Do I like where they are spiritually, financially, mentally, or am I designed for something greater?
9 Qualities of Real Friends: 1. Real friends love you, no matter your state or condition.
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Real friends are patient, even when you have nothing to give.
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Real friends care about your success and well-being MORE than they care about what you can do for them.
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Real friends give more than they take.
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Real friends don’t judge you for the mistakes you make, but they make judgements of you based on the character of your heart.
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Real friends carry you during tough times.
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Real friends speak the truth to you, even when you don’t want to hear it.
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Real friends surround you with love and wisdom and provide you with a safe place to just be.
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Real friends aren’t fickle; they care committed for the long haul.
What a blessing to have REAL friends!
Why You Need Real Friends: * You need friends who love you in spite of yourself. * You won’t always be strong. Sometimes you may need to lean on others. * You don’t know it all. Smart people tap into the wisdom of their trusted peers and friends. * You need accountability. * You need friends for whom you never have to perform. * You need others adding value to you. * You need people who will speak truth, even when it hurts.
Closing Thoughts: * My prayer for you is you will welcome transition, run into the new season, and realize the beauty and the value of true, God-ordained, meaningful relationships in your life.
For certain in life, we’re going to have rainy days. Days when things don’t go the way we thought they would. There will be days or entire seasons even, filled with trials, difficulty, challenges….STUFF!
There will be moments where it seems as though everything is in flux and nothing in life is certain. What do you do when the overwhelming “funk” settles over you?
How do you handle it when the National Weather Service of LIFE interrupts your regularly scheduled programming to notify you a severe storm is right on top of you?
On today’s program, we’re unpacking some Rainy Day Wisdom: 7 Things To Remember When Going Through A Personal Storm.
The Gist: Recently, Sam Chand shared with us:
- Growth = Change
- Change = Loss
- Loss = Pain, therefore
- Growth = Pain
All of us experience storms in our lives. There will be times when not everything is going well. There will be times when you feel you have little direction, little motivation, and no traction. You may even experience a tragedy or life may deal a blow that sends you into a whirlwind of challenges.
BUT!
These seasons are just that. Seasons. They come and they go, they begin and they end. These seasons come to us with purpose and opportunity. They provide us with context and urgency which allow us to see where we are, what may be holding us back, and growth areas we can focus on.
Storms will come. When you are faced with yours, here’s how you can find your way through to the other side.
7 Things To Remember When Going Through A Personal Storm: 1. Never make major decisions while in the storm.
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Wait for the storm to clear. Assess your condition, make a plan, and thoughtfully move forward when it’s safe to do so.
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Seek counsel (but remember, not all counsel is created equal).
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Surround yourself with wise people who can pour into your life or situation. Be mindful of the wisdom they’re sharing and make sure it is sound, and someone isn’t simply trying to be a hero and give you poor advice.
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Remember who you are.
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Recall the promises, dreams, and goals you have on the inside. Discipline your mind to remember! Write it down if you have to.
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Do what you know to do.
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But be careful not to take on new projects unless you are sure they are right for you right now.
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Feed your mind with positive input.
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This could be in the form of sermons, books, podcasts, scripture, motivations, etc. Whatever works for you, DO IT! Find a way to take in positive, faith-building material.
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It’s OK to be alone. It’s not OK to be isolated.
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Being alone is not always a bad thing, but when that turns into cutting off key relationships, not asking for counsel and advice, isolation and idle time, it can become a HUGE problem.
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Spend time with the Father.
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He is faithful and He is working for your benefit. Whatever you’re going through today, He is your most faithful friend.
Closing Thoughts: * You will go through storms and difficult seasons.
- Remember these 7 things to make sure you get through storm standing up.
Fitting in, being accepted, understood, going along to get along, political correctness – the list goes on and on! These are presented to us every day from so many angles and viewpoints.
We’re constantly comparing ourselves to everyone else and measuring how unique we are based on the level of sameness we have with everyone else. It’s a disease!
Whatever happened to being who God made you to be? I want to challenge you today and propose Being Different is Underrated! Embracing your uniqueness is one of the essential keys to leadership influence. Let’s explore this together, shall we?
The Gist: From an early age we’re under subtle pressure to conform, fit in, and to be “normal”. What is “normal”, anyway?
Interestingly enough, the reason we like to see ourselves share similarities with others is because it gives us a true sense of belonging. The challenge lies in the sense that “sameness” becomes one of our greatest enemies.
Believe it or not, our differences are what make us valuable to one another! How can one make a difference if all they have to offer is the exact same stuff everyone else is already offering?
Closing Thoughts: * Why are we compelled to pursue acceptance from others?
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Why are other people’s opinions of us more important than finding our lane and running confidently in it?
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Why are we hesitant to ever stand alone?
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Don’t say yes if the best answer is no.
Have you ever felt stuck? Have you ever felt discontent? That’s what we’re looking at today in my interview with my dear friend and colleague, Dan Miller.
So many leaders today are discontent and feeling as if they’re not fulfilling their purpose. It seems as though it’s an epidemic. Today, Dan I are talking about why, and what to do if you find yourself feeling that way. This is an episode you will NOT want to miss.
About Dan I met Dan originally in Atlanta in May of 2012. Since that time, I have been reading his books and blogs, listening to his podcast, and participating in his 48Days Community on a regular basis. He is one of the most genuine people I know, and I have come to respect him a great deal. Dan Miller, President of 48 Days LLC, specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes that meaningful work blends our natural skills and abilities, our unique personality traits and our dreams and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.
Dan is the author of the widely acclaimed 48 Days To The Work You Love, No More Dreaded Mondays and Wisdom Meets Passion.
Over 130,000 people have subscribed to his weekly newsletter, his 48 Days Podcast consistently ranks in the top 3 under Careers on iTunes, and the 48Days.net business community is viewed as an example around the world for those seeking to find – or create – work they love. Committed to personal priorities, Dan and his wife Joanne are approaching their 45th anniversary and have three world-changing children and 12 amazing grandchildren.
Want more information on Dan’s Coaching With Excellence and Innovate programs? Your Life Experience Has Value. So how can you make a shift from status quo to “whoa!”?
- Look Inward. Have confidence in your direction, and take a fresh look at how God has gifted you.
- Trust Your Passion. Resist the tendency to only be realistic and practical.
- Find the Convergence of Passion, Talent, and Money. It’s a three-legged stool. It needs all three legs to stand!
What are your skills and talents? If you’re having trouble identifying them or identifying your passions, ask those close to you to help you see them.
Take an intentional approach to determining how to spend your future!
Don’t stay stuck.
Many people believe there are two very distinct and separate arenas: Sacred and Secular. Religion has propagated this idea for centuries, and others have rallied for its sustention. Many believe there is no place for spiritual input in the practical world, and vice versa.
Today, I want to challenge that way of thinking. My hope is to convince you to consider we were never created to live separate, compartmentalized lives.
Let’s take a deeper look at Secular Vs. Sacred. Is It Really An Either/Or Proposition?
Thesis: If we continue to segment our lives into secular and sacred compartments, we diminish our ability to be salt and light, and we abdicate our leadership responsibilities in culture.
- If we are not inserted into the areas needing our leadership, how can we lead?
- If salt is not applied, how can the environment be changed?
Defining Secular: 1: Of or relating to the worldly or temporal (secular concerns) b: not overtly or specifically religious (secular music) c: not ecclesiastical or clerical (secular courts; secular landowners)
2: Not bound by monastic vows or rules; specifically: of, relating to, or forming clergy not belonging to a religious order or congregation (a secular priest)
3: Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.
Separation Origination: In their book, Your Work Matters To God, authors Doug Sherman and William Hendricks state the following regarding holy versus unholy vocations:
This whole idea of secular versus religious is a Greek idea. These Greek ideas, clothed in biblical language, have for the most part, been passed down unchallenged to succeeding generations of Christians. As a result, most of us today bring assumptions to the biblical text, assumptions based on a worldview articulated by Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, and other Greek thinkers. Likewise, if you have been around much Christian teaching, you’ve undoubtedly been influenced by at least some Greek ideas. Nothing overtly or purely pagan. But I suggest that Christianity in our culture has absorbed from its tradition a number of subtle beliefs that trace back to Greek philosophy. Now I am not ‘down’ on philosophy. Nor am I ‘down’ on the Greek philosophers, for they have provided us with many insights into philosophical questions. Nevertheless, reading the Bible through their eyes – through Greek glasses – can severely distort the truth of God’s Word. We will think that the Bible says things it does not say, and overlook important things it does say. The result will be a distorted view of life. And a distorted view of work. Wearing Greek glasses, one would tend to ignore or disparage everyday work. This is how work looks when viewed through these lenses.
Dualism: As Christianity grew outside Jerusalem, believers became influenced by a wide array of philosophies. Early Greek scholars like Plato introduced dualism, which says life is divided into two compartments: the spiritual or eternal, and the temporal realm of the physical.
Plato’s dualism entered the church through many of the church fathers that were Greek philosophers who had converted to Christianity. They attempted to reconcile Greek thought with Christianity.
For years, we have presented a theology that promotes literal separation and isolation, even though the Bible teaches us to …
- Go
- Infiltrate wolves
- Be wise and harmless
- Be salt and light
- Bring heaven on earth
- Stand for righteousness and truth
So how do we reconcile the “be ye separate” and the “salt and light” idea?
Is it an EITHER/OR, or is it a BOTH/AND?
Closing Thoughts: * Stop trying to keep your spiritual life and your daily life separated.
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Understand that WHO you are, and WHAT you have to offer are needed.
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You highest service to God is to take the God in you into the field where you are called.
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Serve, lead, work, build.
Philosophy is not often talked about in the context of day-to-day living, or even in leadership. I consider this so unfortunate! Having a baseline philosophy is imperative if you are headed to success.
What I’m sharing today may not be an exhaustive comprehensive foundation, but it is absolutely a starting point to stabilize your priorities and what you want to build on. It’s a simple, yet profound framework I’m calling The L3 Philosophy.
The L3 Philosophy There are three components to this framework:
- Live Big
- Love Deep
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Lead Well
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Live Big: PRINCIPLE #1: The possibilities will only be realized when you increase the size and volume of your containers.
PRINCIPLE #2: Grow your capacity and the solutions show up in your life.
What does living big look like?
- Dream Big
- Think Big
- Believe Big
- Work Big
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Have Big Goals
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Love Deep:
- Choose to love, and love deep.
- Choose to receive love.
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Choose to let the walls down and entrust your heart to others.
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Lead Well:
- If you’re going to do anything in life, do it well.
- Whatever you put your hands to, do it with all your might.
- Lead – and do – with excellence!
Closing Thoughts: * What is your guiding philosophy of life and leadership? * Have you “smalled up” yourself? * Have you scaled down your potential to meet the size of a faulty or limiting container? * Are you able to receive God’s love, or the love others have for you? * Are you able to give love? * Are you giving your all as it relates to leadership?
As leaders, we are compelled to serve others. We always pour personal investments into other people. That said, however, we must remember we cannot give what we do not have, and serving while on empty creates incredible challenges for us personally. Leadership burnout is a real problem!
Whether you’re the CEO, a pastor, or a solo-preneur, taking care of YOU is paramount to the success of your leadership calling. But how can you make sure your account stays full? Why should Me-Time and We-Time be a priority in your life?
Today, we’re talking about One of the Best Investments A Leader Can Make: 10 Reasons Why “Me” Time & “We” Time Are Vitally Important.
The Root Most leaders find themselves working non-stop, always engaged in some way. No doubt several have experienced high levels of success due to this drive, but at what cost?
How many people arrive at the pinnacle of their career only to look back on their life and see a trail of carnage, especially of relationships lost along the way?
The 21st century culture is so success/results driven, we often sacrifice the things that matter the most on the altar of status or accolade.
We invest in the wrong things for the wrong reasons, forgetting how important it is to invest in ourselves, and those we love.
10 Reasons Why “Me” Time & “We” Time Are Vitally Important: 1. Rest 2. Recovery 3. Regained Perspective 4. Restored Hope 5. Renewed Vision 6. Recreation 7. Relationship Triage 8. Relationship Deposits 9. Growth & Development 10. Rediscover Your Why
Show Extras: Fellowship of the Sword: Visit Site Here
You’ve heard “what you see is what you get,” but the same rings true for the words we speak. We greatly influence and control the course of our life by what we say. Our thoughts and beliefs form what we speak, and we may not realize just what kind of power our words wield.
Have you ever intentionally turned up the volume to raise your awareness of what’s coming out of your mouth? You might be shocked if you recorded and played back how you spoke each day.
What affirmations (or curses) are you speaking into your life? What destinies are you creating with your words? Today I want to unpack the power of our words and share with you: What You Say Is What You Get.
Biblical Principle: Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
James 3:5-6, 9-10
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
It Starts With Belief * As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. * We act in accordance with the truth as we believe it to be. (Lou Tice) * We have to align ourselves with the Truth as God sees it, which means challenging our limiting/paralyzing beliefs.
Bridle the Tongue * We must become more aware of our self-talk. * We have to hold captive whatever limiting or destructive things we’re saying. * Turn up our own volume to become more aware of our talk.
The Way Forward 1. Listen 2. Call out (identify) the words that are life taking 3. Repent 4. Receive Truth – What does God know to be true? 5. Replace – Create statements of confession/affirmation that, over time, will take command of your creative power.
Closing Thoughts: * Pay attention to your words. * Are you speaking life, or are you projecting an undesirable outcome? * Are you speaking the truth as God sees it, or are you perpetuating an untruth based on circumstance?
I love sharing interviews with people who can speak life into your leadership growth and personal and professional pursuits. Dr. Hudson is a dear friend of mine, a great resource, and has been a voice in my life over the last year as we’ve been in a mastermind group together.
He’s a teacher, speaker, writer, facilitator, corporate trainer, coach, and ideapreneur. I’m so excited to present this episode of our podcast to you, as it’s chock full of valuable principles and pro-tips from Dr. Michael Hudson.
Do yourself a favor: listen to this episode and plug into these resources today. Without further ado, here’s my Interview With Dr. Michael Hudson.
More About Dr. Michael Hudson: Dr. Michael Hudson helps people discover their vision, write their story, and speak their vision into existence using his provenVisionSpeaker™ System .
Visit 52SpeakerSecrets.com to download your free copy of Michael’s ebook filled with practical insights you can use to increase your impact every time you speak. You can also find more about him on his webpage:
MichaelHudson.com Takeaways: Dr. Michael Hudson’s 3D Presentation Course (Coming in April)
There are three dimensions to a successful speech or presentation and your impact can be compromised if you skip any of them! The course will teach you how to master each level so your next presentation will create the impact it was intended to!
- Design
- Development
- Delivery
The VisionSpeaker System
Developed from Dr. Hudson’s own entrepreneurial experience and work with over 3,000 growing businesses, agencies, and nonprofits. What makes one stand out from another boils down to this: the great ones know where they are going, constantly communicate it, and make tough decisions about what they will do, and more importantly, what they won’t do.
Your Free ebook!
Over the past 31 years, Michael has delivered over 8,000 presentations to audiences ranging from entrepreneurs to corporate CEOs, from small business owners to independent professionals, from government leaders to service clubs, and from college students to 4H youth. Along the way he learned a number of lessons and defined a process that helps him engage with his audience and avoid many of the pitfalls that prevent good speakers from becoming great speakers. He assembled these in an ebook you can download for FREE! Get it here.
John Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is a book I have found so helpful in finding the areas I struggle in leadership, as well as measuring my personal growth in leadership abilities.
The premise of this book is not to say there are only 21 principles concerning leadership. According to Maxwell, there are 21 “laws” to leadership which are universally true no matter where one person leads in any culture or area of society.
(Note: Sociologists generally agree that there are 7 “areas of society” which are business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, the family, and entertainment.)
As you know, we subscribe to the idea EVERY person is created to lead, and has the potential to impact their generation in a meaningful way.
In order to maximize our impact, we must grow our leadership by addressing some key areas:
- Attitude and Mindset
- Competencies
- Clarity of calling
In addition to these, we should look closely at John Maxwell’s 21 “laws” and measure our current state against them. This book is one of the most profound studies on the subject of leadership I have ever encountered
It should be on your MUST READ list, and in the library of every person aspiring to grow their life and leadership.
Let’s look at The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: A Review of John Maxwell’s Timeless Book.
The Laws:
1: The Law of the Lid
Maxwell defines the Law of the Lid by saying “leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. The lower an individual’s ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential.”
This idea is troubling for some because it means no matter how much they desire to be a 10 on the scale of leadership, there is a cap to their abilities based on several factors, including people skills, planning abilities, vision, dedication to success, and past results.
When you leverage the law of the lid and assess your own leadership, you will have a straightforward view of who your followers are, where they land on the leadership scale, and areas you can grow in to raise your leadership lid.
If you are lower on the leadership scale, you most likely won’t be able or equipped to lead those ranking above you. However, your skills can still offer invaluable leadership to people who are any level behind you.
The good news is the law of the lid has room for flexibility. It is unwise to think where you are today as a leader is as good as you will ever be.
2: The Law of Influence
Maxwell’s definition of the Law of Influence is “the true measure of leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.” This, of course, is one of John Maxwell’s most famous quotes heard around the world (and world-wide web). It’s a great quote, but how often do you take time to ask yourself the big question: who are you influencing?
Maybe a bigger question to ask is: what type of influence are we offering those who follow us? Insecure leaders often influence people in ways that keep others down in order to protect their own position in the group.
The best leaders realize leadership is always about raising people to their highest potential, even if it means they one day are surpassed as leaders themselves.
Leadership is not determined by title. You are not a leader if people do not follow you. Maxwell says, “True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned. It comes only from influence, and that cannot be mandated. It must be earned.”
He goes on to say, “When it comes to identifying a real leader… don’t listen to the claims of the person professing to be the leader. Don’t examine his credentials. Don’t check his title. Check his influence. The proof of leadership is found in the followers.”
3: The Law of Process
The subtitle for this chapter is, “Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day.” You can tell where a person will end up by watching their daily habits and priorities. Maxwell writes, “What can you see when you look at a person’s daily agenda? Priorities, passion, abilities, relationships, attitude, personal disciplines, vision, and influence.”
All of those contribute to the destination you will arrive at later on in your life journey. Therefore, it doesn’t matter at all where you hope to end up if you do not first determine which road you ought to be traveling on to get there.
The law of process also comes into play as we set out to lead others. Maxwell says, “Just as you need a growth plan to improve, so do those who work for you.” This means as we lead others, we have to also set them on a course for success.
4: The Law of Navigation
Once you have determined the process to get where you are going, the next step is to navigate your business or organization through the challenges and obstacles to reach to success.
Maxwell quotes Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, as saying, “A good leader remains focused… Controlling your direction is better than being controlled by it.”
The Law of Navigation is where leadership differentiates itself from other voices wanting to be heard. Leaders look at past experiences, prior successes, and hurtful failures. They learn from those things, then look ahead to see where conflict and challenge may arise.
With all of these in mind, leaders will preemptively respond according to those challenges as they move toward the goal.
5: The Law of Addition
The Law of Addition simply says, “leaders add value by serving others.” Maxwell says we add value to others when we truly value them and intentionally make ourselves valuable to them. He says, “
He says, “90 percent of all people who add value to others do so intentionally.” The most helpful way we do this is to really get to know the people we are leading, uncover their priorities, goals, hopes, and dreams, and figure out what we can do to assist them in getting where they need to go. Maxwell says, “
Maxwell says, “Inexperienced leaders are quick to lead before knowing anything about the people they intend to lead. But mature leaders listen, learn, and then lead.”
6: The Law of Solid Ground
Maxwell defines The Law of Solid Ground by saying, “trust is the foundation of leadership” This is perhaps the greatest challenge leaders face in the 21st century, especially those expressly leading as Christians with the Kingdom of God in mind.
Too many people are disillusioned with leaders because they’ve been too-often abused by self-serving leaders. This is especially true of politicians and television preachers.
Trust, then, is the most important element in leadership. If you do not have trust, you have nothing to offer.
Maxwell says we build trust “by consistently exemplifying competence, connection, and character,” and we must “treat trust as our most precious asset.” He later writes, “
He later writes, “How do leaders earn respect? By making sound decisions, by admitting their mistakes, and by putting what’s best for their followers and the organization ahead of their personal agendas.” This is because, “no leader can break trust with his people and expect to keep influencing them.”
7: The Law of Respect
Similar to the high necessity of trust, is the necessity of respect. The Law of Respect reminds us “people naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves.” Maxwell says, “
Maxwell says, “One of the greatest potential pitfalls for natural leaders is relying on talent alone… good leaders rely on respect. They understand that all leadership is voluntary.” He says that “
He continues, “when people respect you as a person, they admire you. When they respect you as a friend, they love you. When they respect you as a leader, they follow you.”
The opposite is true as well. As soon as people lose respect for you, your influence over them will disappear.
8: The Law of Intuition
Maxwell says “every person possesses intuition” and “people are intuitive in their area of strength.”
The Law of Intuition is based on facts and instinct as well as other ever-changing factors such as “employee morale, organizational momentum, and relational dynamics.” Out of the many leadership skills one can develop over time, intuition may be the hardest because it relies on more than experience.
It has a lot to do with natural aptitude for seeing all these factors at once and discerning possible actions and probable outcomes. Maxwell says of intuitive leaders, “
Maxwell says of intuitive leaders, “they ‘tune in’ to leadership dynamics. Many leaders describe this as an ability to ‘smell’ things in their organization. They can sense people’s attitudes. They are able to detect the chemistry of a team… They don’t need to sift through stats, read reports, or examine a balance sheet. They know the situation before they have all the facts. That is the result of their leadership intuition.”
This ability either comes naturally or must be nurtured. Developing intuition through experience and growth is invaluable because, as Maxwell says, “whenever leaders face a problem, they automatically measure it — and begin solving it — using the Law of Intuition.”
9: The Law of Magnetism
The Law of Magnetism states, “who you are is who you attract,” or more simply, you will attract people like yourself.
This can be a good thing in many cases, but is also a call to action to know your weaknesses and seek to grow out of them. Maxwell says, “Leaders help to shape the culture of their organizations based on who they are and what they do,” and “not only do people attract others with similar attitudes, but their attitudes tend to become alike.”
I have heard it said before that in five years, the things you won’t like about your organization is what you don’t like about yourself today. Your personality, character traits, quirks, and mannerisms will both attract people like yourself to your organization as well as rub off on the existing people within.
According to Maxwell, “Like attracts like. That may seem pretty obvious. Yet I’ve met many leaders who expect highly talented people to follow them, even though they neither possess nor express value for those people’s giftedness.”
Therefore, “if you want to grow an organization, grow the leader” and “if you want to attract better people, become the kind of person you desire to attract.”
Once you are attracting the people you want to have following you, it’s time to take yourself and those people to the next level.
10: The Law of Connection
Maxwell summarizes The Law of Connection by saying, “leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand.”
Another way to say this is people will not follow you until they are emotionally bought into the vision you are casting. There is also some tie in here with the famous quote, “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
To truly connect with people, you have to value them, learn about them, and adapt to who they are. Do not expect people to change themselves in order to follow you. You must change yourself in order to invite them in.
Even the Apostle Paul understood this principle when, in his evangelistic efforts, he declared, “for though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).
The law of connection means we understand people’s self-identity, meet them where they are, and connect with them before we try to get them to follow us or buy into our vision.
11: The Law of the Inner Circle
The Law of the Inner Circle states “a leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him.” This is similar in effect to the law of magnetism, which says your followers will be like you, except this says you will begin to be like those with whom you surround yourself.
When I was in high school, the guidance counselor would say, “you show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” I hated that quote at the time since I wanted to be in control of my own destiny, yet because this law is universal, time has proven that statement true every time.
To leverage the law of the inner circle, we must continually surround ourselves with people we admire and respect and want to become like as we grow.
Unfortunately, this is counter-intuitive to the leadership style of most. Insecure leaders feel threatened when they are not the smartest or most talented people in the room, so they surround themselves with people weaker than themselves. This, however, means their personal potential for growth is stunted by the capacity of those they keep near.
Maxwell says in order to leverage the law of the inner circle and “to increase your capacity and maximize your potential as a leader, your first step is always to become the best leader you can. The next is to surround yourself with the best leaders you can find.”
12: The Law of Empowerment
This law states “only secure leaders give power to others.” This means secure leaders spend their time “identifying leaders; building them up; giving them resources, authority, and responsibility; and then turning them loose to achieve…”
Insecure leaders, in contrast, spend their time suspicious of those around them and do everything they can to undermine others’ potential and growth.
Former U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt said, “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
Maxwell says this is because, “to keep others down, you have to go down with them. And when you do that, you lose any power to lift others up.”
To take advantage of this law in our lives, we must understand as we develop leaders around us, we not only raise our own value as a leader, but our organizations are benefitted in the process as well.
13: The Law of the Picture
The Law of the Picture says “people do what people see.” This may be one of the highest laws, understanding everything rises and falls on leadership. Character matters. Maxwell says, “
Maxwell says, “When the leaders show the way with the right actions, their followers copy them and succeed.”
Corrupt leaders will corrupt those around them because their own lives demonstrate it as good and acceptable.
From the Christian perspective, as leaders we must understand integrity comes first in everything we do, because other people are watching us and will follow our example. One scripture that comes to mind is the command in Hebrews 13:7, “
One scripture that comes to mind is the command in Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
14: The Law of Buy-In
The Law of Buy-In states, “people buy into the leader, then the vision.” Maxwell continues, “many people who approach the area of vision in leadership have it all backward. They believe that if the cause is good enough, people will automatically buy into it and follow. But that’s not how leadership really works. People don’t at first follow worthy causes. They follow worthy leaders who promote causes they can believe in.”
If we relatel this back to the law of the picture, if your credibility as a leader is questionable, people won’t be willing to follow the vision you are casting simply because they doubt you can get them there.
One of the biggest leadership lessons I took away from my own experiences in 2014 was that leadership is inevitably connected to the opportunities they present. Sometimes saying “no” to a bad leader means saying “no” to a good opportunity, and sometimes saying “no” to a bad opportunity means saying “no” to a good leader.
This was my personal realization of the law of buy-in. Maxwell says it this way, “You cannot separate leaders from the causes they promote. It cannot be done, no matter how hard you try. It’s not an either/or proposition. The two always go together.”
As a leader, you cannot promote your vision and the good work you are doing through websites and social media, and expect people to immediately jump on board to volunteer or give money. If they do not trust you, it does not matter what opportunity you put in front of them.
From my own observation in global ministry, I think this may be the biggest issue those in the non-profit and humanitarian world need to learn.
15: The Law of Victory
The Law of Victory states that leaders find a way for the team to win. Maxwell writes, “Every leadership station is different. Every crisis has its own challenges. But I think that victorious leaders have one thing in common: they share an unwillingness to accept defeat. The alternative to winning is totally unacceptable to them. As a result, they figure out what must be done to achieve victory.”
Though not mentioned in the book, I think back to the 2009 movie (based on the 1960’s TV show) Star Trek, and the always-inspiring Captain James T. Kirk. In every situation, Kirk refuses to accept defeat and always finds a way to accomplish the mission at hand.
One of the storylines to build this characteristic in Kirk was featured during his time at Starfleet Academy when he took a virtual reality test which presented him with a “no-win” scenario. In order to beat the test scenario, Kirk reprogrammed the simulation, and as he faced expulsion for cheating, he referred to the test itself as a cheat since there was no way to successfully complete the challenge. His mindset would not allow him to even accept the premise of a “no-win” scenario.
This is the way a leader who embraces the law of victory thinks. They take responsibility, get creative, and throw all their experience and passion into reaching success. There is a “don’t quit” attitude, and failure is not an option. These leaders are always inspiring to those behind them, even when the challenge gets difficult.
Maxwell quotes Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame head football coach, as saying, “You’ve got to have great athletes to win, I don’t care who the coach is. You can’t win without good athletes, but you can lose with them. This is where coaching makes the difference.”
Good leaders take responsibility for the success of the team and do what it takes to lead the way to victory.
16: The Law of the Big Mo
The Law of the Big Mo says “momentum is a leader’s best friend.” Maxwell says this is “because many times (momentum) is the only thing that makes the difference between losing and winning. When you have no momentum, even the simplest tasks seem impossible… On the other hand, when you have momentum on your side, the future looks bright, obstacles appear small, and troubles seem inconsequential.”
This law especially comes into play when an organization is starting out. Everything is a challenge, and it seems to take forever to get anything done. However, just like a train slowly gaining speed, once that same organization gets moving, there is no stopping it.
In physics this phenomenon is referred to as the law of inertia, which states in part “an object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
This truth is the same when it comes to leadership. An organization with forward momentum is hard to slow down. The challenge is in getting that momentum built up in the first place (and making sure the momentum is in the direction you want the organization to go).
Maxwell says, “creating momentum requires someone who has vision, can assemble a good team, and motivates others. If the leader is looking for someone to motivate him, then the organization is in trouble.”
17: The Law of Priorities
For almost two years now, the background image on my computer desktop has challenged me with the question, “Are you being productive, or just being busy?” This is at the heart of the Law of Priorities, which reminds us, “leaders understand that activity is not necessarily about accomplishment.”
Maxwell says, “when we are busy, we naturally believe that we are achieving. But business does not equal productivity. Activity is not necessarily accomplishment.” This is talking about prioritizing, which “requires leaders to continually think ahead, to know what’s important, to see how everything relates to the overall vision.”
Sometimes what is highest on the priority list is not comfortable or easy.
The key to leveraging the law of priorities is called “the Pareto Principle” or more commonly “the 80/20 principle.” Maxwell says if we spend most of our time working on the things in the top 20% of importance, it will give us 80% of the return we are looking for.
Other factors Maxwell discusses in setting your priority list are his three R’s: Requirement, Return, and Reward. These three R’s make us ask: “what must I do that nobody can or should do for me?”
“Life is too short to not do some things you love.” When we properly prioritize how we spend our time, it will always set us on course for success. When we don’t prioritize our time, we will often look back wondering where it all went.
18: The Law of Sacrifice
The Law of Sacrifice gives us a glimpse into the heart of a leader: “a leader must give up to go up.” Maxwell says, “there is a common misperception among people who aren’t leaders that leadership is all about the position, perks, and power that come from rising in an organization… The life of a leader can look glamorous to people on the outside. But the reality is that leadership requires sacrifice.”
I have a friend who has invested thousands of hours of his time and thousands of dollars to receive leadership training from the best teachers our generation has to offer. He owns and runs a successful branch of the company for which he works, has a healthy bank account, and is capable of enjoying many comforts that life has to offer.
What impresses me the most about this friend, though, is not his success in the business world, but his willingness to put all of his success on the line to take his leadership to the next level and share with others. He has recently taken on a regional leadership position with his company that gives him the ability to take personal time to travel around the region without pay to meet with others in the company and help them develop their own branch of the business.
He has also launched a community leadership networking group which is costing him personal time and money to develop leaders in our city for which he will receive little to no return. While many people see a white-collar business man and think, “that must be nice to not have to work so hard,” I see a friend who works twice as hard as most to give other people a leg up in life and business.
Maxwell says, “There is no success without sacrifice. Every person who has achieved any success in life has made sacrifices to do so.” He adds, “the heart of leadership is putting others ahead of yourself. It’s doing what is best for the team.”
If you are pursuing leadership for personal gain or recognition, then you are not, in reality, a quality leader.
19: The Law of Timing
For natural leaders, many of the principles discussed up to this point can be fairly easy to live by. Even those who may not be born-leaders, but who have invested time and effort to grow in these areas, may have a lot of success with them.
Yet, when we come to the Law of Timing, I believe many leaders begin to struggle. This law teaches us “when to lead is as important as what to do and where to go.”
Maxwell gives a few summary statements. He says, “the wrong action at the wrong time leads to disaster.” “The right action at the wrong time brings resistance.” “The wrong action at the right time is a mistake.” However, “the right action at the right time results in success.”
As we develop our leadership abilities, we have to go beyond simply knowing how to lead. We must also learn to discern when it is the right time to do so.
20: The Law of Explosive Growth
At this stage in the book, Maxwell takes a turn from simply sharing vital laws of good leadership, and begins to teach how to take leadership higher.
The Law of Explosive Growth says, “to add growth, lead followers,” but, “to multiply, lead leaders.” Maxwell further explains this distinction by saying, “if you develop yourself, you can experience personal success. If you develop a team, your organization can experience growth. (But) if you develop leaders, your organization can achieve explosive growth.”
He adds, “You can grow by leading followers. But if you want to maximize your leadership and help your organization reach its potential, you need to develop leaders.”
Some practical advice for leading includes development of the top 20% of people around you rather than spending time playing catch up with the bottom 20%, focusing on strengths instead of weaknesses, and treating everyone differently rather than treating all people the same.
Determine what it takes to invest quality time into others rather than just spending time together.
To live by the law of explosive growth is definitely harder and takes more time and energy to do, yet the trickle down effect will lead to exponential multiplication.
Maxwell summarizes this law by saying, “leaders who develop leaders experience an incredible multiplication effect in their organizations that can be achieved in no other way — not by increasing resources, reducing costs, increasing profit margins, improving systems, implementing quality procedures, or doing anything else.”
21: The Law of Legacy
This final law states, “a leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.” The chapter begins by asking, “What do you want people to say at your funeral? That may seem like an odd question, but it may be the most important thing you can ask yourself as a leader.”
A few years ago, I practiced setting what Andy Stanley calls “Be-goals,” which are character qualities a person wants to be known for in life. My be goals are things like: God-seeking, holy (set apart for God/fighting sin and temptation), and humble.
Walking through this exercise is in effect determining what success looks like for myself. Unfortunately, this is an activity most will never engage in.
Maxwell says, “most people simply accept their lives — they don’t lead them.” To be sure, my favorite statement made in this chapter, if not the entire book is, “someday people will summarize your life in a single sentence. My advice: pick it now!”
One day we will all be gone, and what remains of us will be the examples we set with our lives and the people we leave behind empowered to continue on.
Maxwell summarizes the life of a leader by saying, “achievement comes when they do big things by themselves. Success comes when they empower followers to do big things for them. Significance comes when they develop leaders to do great things with them. Legacy comes when they put leaders in position to do great things without them.”
He ends the chapter with this thought: “our abilities as leaders will not be measured by the buildings we built, the institutions we established, or what our team accomplished during our tenure. You and I will be judged by how well the people we invested in carried on after we are gone.”
This is the greatest challenge a lifelong pursuit of leadership will face, but it is also the only thing that will matter in the end.
Closing Thoughts: * These laws will serve you well if you follow them. * I encourage you to purchase this book; study it; live it. * Make a commitment today to raise the bar of your leadership ability.
When it comes to life and leadership, I rarely talk about magic formulas or silver bullets. Principles are what drive success, influence, and fulfillment!.
Although I’m referencing a formula in today’s episode, it is really a thesis on three factors which play a significant part in success and failure of any goal or undertaking.
If you have these three components working for you, you are sure to maximize your leadership influence and succeed in life. The are:
- Personal Mastery
- Persistent Motivation
- Powerful Momentum
I’m calling it The 3M Leadership Formula: Personal Mastery, Persistent Motivation, & Powerful Momentum.
The Review: Last week, Dr. Sam Chand talked about Leadership Pain. He mentioned a specific matrix I found fascinating. He explained:
- Growth = Change
- Change = Loss
- Loss = Pain
Therefore:
- Growth = Pain
This is so true! We cannot grow in life or leadership without change. Change causes us to lose – at the very least – all that is familiar to us, which gives us a degree of pain. But if we’re going to have any growth, we’re going to have to understand pain as well.
I want to look at this from a different angle today.
The 3M Leadership Formula: 1: Personal Mastery
- Mind
- Time
- Emotions
- Development Plans
- Learning
- Life
2: Persistent Motivation
- Re-engage your “who am I?” and “why am I here?” focus!
3: Powerful Momentum
- It takes a lot of work and effort to engage momentum, but once it’s going, it makes the work so much easier!
Reflection Questions: 1. Are you committed to personal mastery?
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Have you given up?
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Can you conjure up an attitude of persistence, perseverance, and pressing through?
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Can you remember your WHY and allow it to motivate you?
Closing Thoughts: * These 3M forces are game changers. * It’s all on you to pursue mastery. * Commit your mind and heart to persistent motivation. * Press hard into the creation of powerful momentum.
I am thrilled to be able to share an interview with a true leadership guru, and introduce you to a very special friend of mine. Sam Chand is a phenomenal leader, mentor, and fount of wisdom in the leadership world. Make sure you have your notebook handy, because you’ll want to take copious notes on what Dr. Sam Chand shares today.
Without further ado, here is Sam Chand, talking with us today about Leadership Pain.
Bio: As a Dream Releaser, Dr. Sam Chand serves pastors, ministries, and businesses as a Leadership Architect and Change Strategist. Dr. Sam Chand has served as Senior Pastor, College President, Chancellor, and President Emeritus.
He personally consults, mentors, and coaches some of the country’s largest church pastors, speaks regularly at leadership conferences, churches, corporations, Leadership Roundtables, minister’s conferences, seminars, and other leadership development opportunities. He was named in the Top-30 Global Leadership Gurus List.
His singular vision for his life is to help others succeed. Dr. Sam Chand develops leaders through Leadership Consultations, Leadership Resources (books/CDs), and Leadership Speaking. Leaders are using Dr. Sam Chand’s books as handbooks worldwide in leadership development.
Being raised in a pastor’s home in India has uniquely equipped Dr. Sam Chand to share his passion – that of mentoring, developing and inspiring leaders to break all limits – in ministry and the marketplace.
You can connect with Dr. Sam Chand at his website: www.samchand.com Closing Thoughts: * Growth equals change. Change equals loss. Loss equals pain. Therefore, growth equals pain. * The price of promotion is pain. * Pain has a purpose! Learn from it and allow it to help you grow!
We each have unique strengths and weaknesses. Every person, and every leader especially, has areas where they will really shine. That said, lurking somewhere beneath the surface are unresolved, broken issues that, if left unaddressed, will leave you open for unfortunate outcomes.
We have so many reminders that a person’s potential is often capped at the point of their unresolved pain. This is why I feel it’s so important to talk about this today, and share 7 Reasons Every Leader Must Experience Their Own Personal Healing.
Personal Healing: Personal healing is the process of identifying, acknowledging, reconciling, and rebooting.
- IDENTIFY: the broken area; the outcomes/results the brokenness is producing.
- ACKNOWLEDGE: the pain, loss, event, circumstance, anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness.
- RECONCILE: Own it, forgive, resolve to not let it continue to have power over you, let it go, let them go, give yourself permission to move on. Lay it down!
- REBOOT: See your life through new eyes. What is possible, now that you’re not filtering your potential through unresolved issues?
Every leader needs to embrace this process, because it opens up a new realm of possibilities; opportunities that have always existed, but couldn’t be seen.
7 Reasons Every Leader Must Experience Their Own Personal Healing: 1: You cannot change what you don’t acknowledge.
The challenges you face in life/leadership are a direct result of the condition of your own heart.
2: Unresolved issues always lead to complex, even compounded, problems.
To ignore the issue is to ensure the eventual dismantling of one’s leadership influence.
3: Defective leading leads to destructive habits; destructive habits lead to disrupted destiny.
Your core beliefs will always govern the outcomes in your life, business, and leadership.
4: Hurting people hurt people.
A leader who refuses to address his/her own issues is sure to hurt those they are called to lead.
5: Your personal perspective affects your ability to see, and a persona with tainted vision cannot lead effectively.
When a leader’s vision is clouded, especially by pain or unforgiveness, the entire organization suffers.
6: Your internal condition will ultimately determine your external influence.
It is difficult to lead others with integrity when your own life is in shambles.
7: God longs for you to be healed so you can live well, love strong, and lead effectively.
Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life, and that more abundantly.”
Reflection Questions: 1. Are there areas in your life needing to be addressed, or even healed?
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Are you ready to acknowledge those things?
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Are you ready to grapple with the pain so you can glory in the resolution of that which has haunted you for years?
Closing Thoughts: * Every leader must experience personal healing. * Every leader must decide today to acknowledge their pain, brokenness, and vulnerabilities. * Every leader must pursue coaching, counseling, or the accountability of a friend. * Every leader must recognize their leadership potential is capped at the point of their unresolved pain.
We’ve talked before about how beliefs are formed and how your internal hard-drive contains a lifetime of inputs and experiences your behavior is governed by. It’s true people act according to how they perceive truth – whether or not it’s actually true.
But what does our mindset have to do with the way we lead? Do our core beliefs affect the way we dream or plan or influence others?
In today’s episode, we’ll look at these and other questions as we unpack how Your Mindset Matters: The Way You Think Determines The Way You Lead.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he… ~ Proverbs 23:7
Mindset: Every area of our lives is affected by our mindset. Victim mindset produces hopeless situations. Poverty mindset produces helpless situations. Controlling mindset produces rigid environments. But let’s focus on some positives when it comes to the power of our mindset! Aspire to adopt these traits in your own life:
10 Qualities of a Leader’s Mindset: 1: Vision
A leader does not allow the past to determine the future. They SEE possibilities and convey them to those who are following.
2: Personal Growth
Leaders posses the desire to grow intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and in their influence. Leaders are committed to a lifetime of learning.
3: WE, not ME
A leader effectively mines the talents, skills, and gifts of the collective and leads the group to the full realization of their potential. The spotlight is on the team, not the individual.
4: Ownership
A leader takes ownership, responsibility, and accountability. They never blame others or pass the buck.
5: Innovation
Leaders live and think outside the box. They find ways to solve problems, even if those solutions are uncommon, unheard of, or unconventional.
6: Investment
Leaders not only invest in their own personal growth, but in the growth and development of others. They train, coach, and develop others with a heart of genuine service.
7: Empowerment
A leader promotes and empowers their followers to achieve, and are not threatened by the success of their team.
8: Patience
A leader understands the law of the seed, in it taking time for someone (or something) to grow and mature into full potential.
9: Abundance
Leaders expect prosperity and success, and believe when there is vision, resources will appear.
10: Leading by Example
A leader is not a manager, telling everyone what to do and when. A leader is in the trenches, working alongside, and rushing in rather than simply distributing orders.
Reflection Questions: 1. What beliefs do you hold that may handicap your leadership?
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Are there areas in your thinking that need to change in order for you to become more effective in life?
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Look at the fruit of your life and leadership. Examine it closely. Is it time to till up some hard ground and establish a new way of thinking?
Closing Thoughts: * You will rise to the level of your mindset. No more. * Your mindset matters in life AND in leadership!
Welcome to our video blog and Monday Mastery Edition of our Strategic Leader Podcast with Brian Holmes! Each Monday, we provide a video & podcast audio segment designed to encourage, motivate, challenge, and develop you as a leader and influencer.
In this episode, I explore the Principle of Personal Growth.
Mike Kim is an author, speaker, marketing consultant, communications strategist, and copywriter. He has many talents and a long list of major contributions he has already made during his young life.
Mike is a musician, leadership expert, fellow masterminder, and I’m blessed to be able to call him a personal friend. Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to the one and only: Mike Kim.
More About Mike: Mike Kim ditched his comfy C-suite marketing job in pursuit of career freedom. His goal is to help leaders like you parlay your past work into a profitable personal brand. You can start now by downloading his free eBook, The Do-It-Yourself Blog Guide at mikekim.com.
Mike is a full-time entrepreneur helping others get their businesses and platforms off and running. Prior to his present work, he experienced several transitions – pivots – he knows led him to where he is (and thriving!) today. He talks about his experience, what he learned from his pivots, and shares with us his course designed to help you navigate the pivots in your own life as well!
Connect With Mike: Website Facebook The Pivot Course Closing Questions: 1. Do you recognize yourself in the place Mike was talking about today? 2. Do you need to make a pivot, or even a total change in your life? 3. Are you committed to abandoning the status quo, and taking your life and leadership to the next level?
Welcome to our video blog and Monday Mastery Edition of our Strategic Leader Podcast with Brian Holmes! Each Monday, we provide a video & podcast audio segment designed to encourage, motivate, challenge, and develop you as a leader and influencer.
In this episode, I explore the Principle of Hard Work.
Hi. My name is Brian Holmes, and I am a recovering people pleaser. But before you get your feathers ruffled, I’m willing to bet you’re one, too!
Why do so many of us struggle with this disease? What drives us to say yes when we know we shouldn’t? Is it possible to break free from people pleasing and performance-based acceptance?
In this episode, we’ll answer these questions and more as we talk about The Plague of People Pleasing and How You Can Break Free.
You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” ~ John Lydgate
What is the ROOT of this plague? Most often, the people-pleasing tendency can be tracked back to a relationship or an event where one’s value was inherently linked to their performance.
What is the RESULT of this plague? * We say yes when we know we should say no. * We accept jobs that do not bring us satisfaction or benefit us financially. * We make promises we can’t keep. * We create an unsustainable life!
Reflection Questions: 1. Do you have a hard time saying “no”?
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Do you find yourself striving to meet what you perceive to be other people’s expectations?
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Do you lose self-esteem when people criticize or question you?
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Do you often find yourself trying to help people understand why you are doing what you are doing?
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Do you feel as though you never measure up?
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Are you consumed with seeking approval or recognition?
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Are you a people pleaser?
7 Truths You Must Embrace: 1. You are loved, accepted, and approved of by God.
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You have tremendous value.
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Your value is not based on what you do, but who you are.
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The people in your life will always have their expectations of you, but only you can determine what you expect from yourself.
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People pleasing is a plague. It will only bring you misery, frustration, and less than success.
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You cannot expect people to understand where you are or where you are going. They simply cannot.
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“If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection.” ~ LeCrae
Tips For Breaking Free: * Unplug for a moment. * Decompress and take the pressure off yourself. * Evaluate by listing your gifts, talents, abilities, and qualities. * Get Clarity. Who am I, and why am I here? * Identify the areas you feel you need to please others. * Ask. Why? What is the root of this need in me? * Decide. I will resolve this root issue and I will no longer be driven by fear. * Create boundaries. Make decisions ahead of time. * Be Accountable. * Practice “no”.
Closing Thoughts: * We teach people how to treat us. * Most people love you as long as you fit in the box they’ve created for you. * Don’t be afraid to disappoint. Do what is right and let the chips fall where they may.
Welcome to our video blog and Monday Mastery Edition of our Strategic Leader Podcast with Brian Holmes! Each Monday, we provide a video & podcast audio segment designed to encourage, motivate, challenge, and develop you as a leader and influencer.
In this episode, I explore the Principle of Discipline.
There are many people experiencing some type of transition in their lives right now. Whether it’s in a career, relationships, faith, or life in general, we experience transition on a consistent basis. But, how do we know when we’re in transition? How do we identify, or even embrace, the end of a season in our lives?
I’m glad you asked! In this episode, I want to share with you the Four Stages of a Successful Transition AND the 7 Keys to Completing a Successful Transition!
Change is inevitable, but what will you do when change comes to you? Transition is something we’ll all experience. It’s the place between the way things were and the way they will be.
What is Transition? The following excerpt was taken from an article www.Therarive.com
In the simplest terms, transition is change. In a broader sense however, transitions are life’s way of asking us to reexamine our present way of being. These transitions can be predictable such as a child leaving for college or marriage, or they can be unpredictable, such as the sudden death of a loved one or a traumatic accident. Whatever the degree or intensity of the event, every transition we experience has one thing in common. It forces us to make changes to our existing life. And with change, comes resistance. A major life transition literally closes one chapter of our life, and starts a new one, putting us in a new place and direction that we have not walked before. It is often a very difficult adjustment as we endure intense feelings of fear, doubt, and uncertainty.
Transitions typically mark an ending followed by a time of self-reflection, which hopefully, leads to a new beginning or outlook on life. Every life transition asks us to let go of a past way of thinking or doing. By doing so, we are given the opportunity to replace the old way of being with something new. During the transitional period, however, we usually feel uncomfortable, almost disconnected with our environment and even ourselves.
While this is natural to some extent, if you can’t move through this phase, these feelings can often overwhelm you, sending you spinning out of control into emotional turmoil. Many times, people turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to numb the anxiety and stress of these transitional times. Admittedly, life isn’t always fair, but often the most good comes out what seems at the time to be a completely overwhelming experience.
Whatever the transition, counseling with a professional counselor is an excellent opportunity to help you take stock of your life and move forward into your new beginning with less pain and resistance.
Transitions are difficult because we unconsciously or even consciously resist change. As humans, it seems like every fiber of our being is innately programmed to resist anything new or unknown to us, most likely a result of our basic self-preservation instinct. Whether we realize it or not, even good changes can cause us to feel stressed and uneasy. On some level, we are simply not comfortable with the unknown.”
4 Stages of Transition: 1. Discontent
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What has been no longer satisfies you. Much like pain and discomfort.
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Disconnect
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If you’re going to embrace opportunities ahead of you, you must disconnect from the old (or current) practices. You can’t hold on to the past and embrace the future at the same time.
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Discovery
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Pursue understanding of what your opportunities and possibilities are.
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Deployment
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Full engagement in your calling.
Change is inevitable, progress is optional.” ~ Tony Robbins
7 Keys to Completing a Successful Transition: 1. Learn to recognize when something’s season has come to an end.
- Is there still passion? Fulfillment? Joy?
- Is what you’re doing bearing fruit?
- Is the relationship in question mutually beneficial?
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Is where you are limiting your forward, upward progress?
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Embrace change.
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Grieve over the loss of the known, then anticipate the next chapter.
- Set your sights on what is ahead.
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Know change, properly handled, produces growth and progress, which produces new opportunities and prosperity.
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Let go of the past.
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Hurts
- Failures
- Disappointments
- Relationships
- Past wins or successes
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Unforgiveness
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Identify the opportunities.
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New relationships
- New career/business
- New circles
- New levels
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New ideas
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Concentrate on growth areas.
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What do I need to know?
- What resources do I need to pursue?
- What areas in my life require personal development?
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What new disciplines must I acquire?
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Commit to your future.
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Your next chapter is designed to be greater than the last.
- God has plans for you, and they are awesome.
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Commit to yourself, and commit to your future.
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Exercise faith.
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You don’t have to understand it all!
- Be willing to step into the new, even if you can only see one step.
- Trust God’s leadership in your life.
- Trust His plans.
- Believe you can succeed and accomplish the task.
Closing Thoughts: * Embrace the discontent. * Be willing to disconnect. * Set your heart on discovering what is possible and what is new. * Engage with all your heart.
Welcome to Monday Mastery with Brian Holmes! Each Monday morning, we provide a video & podcast audio segment designed to encourage, motivate, challenge, and develop you as a leader and influencer.
In this segment, I explore the Principle of the Seed.
I believe in spite of all the challenges we’re presently facing in our world, opportunities abound. But if you believe and are willing to stretch yourself, this can – and will! – be one of the greatest seasons of your life.
How can we rise above the status quo, and take our lives and our leadership to a level we’ve never experienced before? How can we make sure this year is not simply a repeat of last year?
I want to have you answer 10 questions today that will help set you down the path to new beginnings and achievements this year. Here are 10 Questions You Must Answer If You Want 2016 To Be A Breakout Year.
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.” ~ Chinese Proverb
Change requires movement. Movement requires action. Action requires commitment. Commitment requires a decision be made. Decisions require information, and dependable, trustworthy information requires questions be asked.
Until you ask questions, your information is accidental.” ~ Dr. Mike Murdock
10 Questions to Ask Yourself:
1 Who am I, and why am I here?
- What is the purpose I was created for?
- What contribution am I supposed to leave in my lifetime?
2 What do I want in 2016?
- relationships
- health
- financial growth
- career/business shift
- spiritual growth
3 What have I accepted as “normal” that is actually unacceptable and self-defeating?
- unhealthy connections
- job I’m unhappy in
- hurtful or abusive relationships
- toxic environments
- negativity
- lack of discipline
- poverty
- unhappiness
4 What am I no longer willing to tolerate?
- list each thing/person
- be specific
5 What actions/changes am I willing to make TODAY?
- list each one
- be specific
6 What relationships do I need in my life that I presently do not have?
- mentor/coach
- friends
- mastermind group
7 What relationships do I presently have in my life that I need to walk away from?
8 Do I have clearly articulated goals for 2016?
9 Do I have a personal development plan for 2016?
10 At the end of 2016, what has to have happened for me to feel I’ve experienced a breakout year?
Closing Thoughts: * You cannot lead someone else somewhere you have not been. * Honest, thought-provoking questions foster an awakening of potential and possibility. * Refuse the status quo and become the leader God intended you to be!
Welcome to Monday Mastery with Brian Holmes! Each Monday morning, we provide you a video segment that is designed to encourage, motivate, challenge, and develop you as a leader and influencer.
In this segment, I explore the Principle of Priorities.
Welcome, everyone! As you can see, this is our new and improved podcast! We’re delighted to have you along with us on this journey.
We’re gathering emerging leaders together in this great community, and placing our focus on personal and leadership development.
I am especially excited about today’s program, as it is our inaugural episode under our new focus. Let’s get started today, talking about Strategic Leadership!
Why the shift in focus and branding? * Over the last several months, I’ve realized the way I can make the greatest impact is to pour into other leaders. In part, this is due to my own deep conviction that every problem we face in our world has been created by, and can be solved by, leadership. * Our world is a host of significant challenges in almost every area of society: families, governments, businesses, financial systems, religions, prejudices, etc. * In direct contrast to that, I’m encouraged to talk all over the world and hear a genuine, sincere desire to pursue NEW ideas, NEW paths, and NEW methods for leading our nations to a NEW light.This has happened because of one reason … Leadership!
What does it mean, to be a “strategic leader”? * To quote John Maxwell … “Leaders lead.”
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Leaders influence people
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Leaders influence policy
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Leaders influence thinking
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Leaders influence culture
What if I’m not a leader? You can choose to do what most do: graduate, get a good job, pay the bills, die…
OR You can choose to break free of the status quo, discover your leadership potential, and be the leader who changes your world.
7 Areas Strategic Leaders Are Desperately Needed: 1. Personal Leadership 2. Family Leadership 3. Business/Marketplace Leadership 4. Church/Spiritual Leadership 5. Classroom/Educational Leadership 6. Community Leadership 7. Political Leadership
Why should leadership be a front-of-mind focus for me in the new year? It begins with you! Closing Thoughts: * Nothing changes until something changes. * Status quo is not acceptable anymore. * What if you could uncover your REAL leadership potential, and make a REAL difference in the world?
Another year is winding down and Christmas is just around the corner! It goes without saying, we’re more than grateful for another wonderful year and most of all, for YOU.
Along the way, I’ve shared we have some really BIG things coming in 2016. Today, I want to give you a sneak peek into some of our plans for the new year, including a fresh beginning for this very podcast!
We’re also going to introduce you formally one of my most trusted and valued team members.
I know you have a lot of wonderful things on your mind this holiday season, but for a few minutes, let me share with you some of the things we’ve been cooking up in the BrianHolmes.com kitchen.
On this episode, I want to talk about Changing Directions in 2016!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2016 1. Embracing my identity & strengths * I am a leader of leaders, father of fathers, trainer of trainers.
- A narrower, more defined focus
- Personal Leadership
- Family Leadership
- Workplace/Marketplace Leadership
- Community Leadership
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Political Leadership
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Personal & Leadership development programs
- Audio Courses
- Online Video Courses
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Mini Courses
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Live Training Opportunities
- Webinars
- Live seminars in Dallas/Ft. Worth
- Intensive Workshops
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Strategic Leadership Conference
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New Books
- 4 Cornerstones e-book
- Healing the Broken Soul e-book
- Relationship Realities e-book
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The Art of Living
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A New Brand, Focus, and Format for the Podcast
- The Strategic Leader podcast
- Speaking to the needs and challenges of today’s emerging leaders
- Special features (book reviews, tips, coaching tools)
- Interviews with leadership experts in all areas
- and more!
Introducing Val Kleppen * Val has been an integral part of our team for the last year as my executive assistant. * Learn more about her here.
We live in a very self-centered and selfish culture. Very few people are as concerned about others as they are about themselves. I know we can only give what we have, and therefore we must take care to be healthy, prosperous, and well put together. However, nowadays it seems we’ve all but forgotten what it means to live our lives in the service of others.
On this episode, I want to talk about Developing a Heart of Giving: 10 Ways You Can Serve Others and Make A Difference.
- Slow Down & Pay Attention
- There are needs all around you every day.
- There are people who simply need a smile, a hello, a warm hug, or a helping hand.
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Take a deep breath, slow down, and develop a discipline of awareness.
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Extend a Kind Gesture
- Open the door for someone.
- Help someone with their luggage as they board a plane.
- Pat someone on the back.
- Tell someone to have a wonderful day.
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Say, “Thank you!”
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Share a Compliment or Word of Affirmation
- Tell the store clerk what a great job they’re doing.
- Better yet, ask them to call their manager over, and compliment them in front of their manager.
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Tell your employees when they do good.
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Buy Someone’s Meal, Coffee, or Even Their Groceries
- Clean House & Give All the STUFF You Don’t Need or Wear to the Salvation Army or Other Agency
- Every one of us has 10 times what we need in our closet.
- Coats, pants, shirts, blouses, dresses, shoes.
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There are many legitimate and worthy charities that take our unnecessary belongings and help others with them.
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Give Money to Someone In Need
- Be led by the Holy Spirit or listen to your inner voice.
- Sponsor a child (Compassion International, World Vision, Samaritans Purse).
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Wounded Warrior Project
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Sponsor a Family For The Holidays
- We really don’t NEED anything, so why not:
- Buy groceries and gifts for a family who is less fortunate than yours.
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Make this a tradition and do for someone else BEFORE you do for your own.
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Act of Service
- Serving the homeless
- Ministering to and helping pregnant teens
- Visiting the elderly and shut-in
- Sending gifts to our servicemen and servicewomen
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Volunteering for charities and agencies
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Just Being There For Friends In Need
- Taking time to visit and listen
- Sacrificing your social time for valuable relationships
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Re-arranging your life to be available for others
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Be Purposeful & Intentional About Developing YOUR Attitude of Giving
- Ask . . . . How can I serve someone today?
- Look . . . For opportunities to do good.
- Listen . . For moments to speak an encouraging word.
- Lead . . . By doing what others are not willing to do.
Questions to Ask Yourself: * How can you be intentional about developing a heart of giving today?
We’re almost at the end of 2015, and it has been an incredible year. I recently had the incredible opportunity to be a guest on John Lee Dumas’ EOFire podcast.
If you are aspiring to be an entrepreneur, aspiring to grow your business, you’ve GOT to be connected to John Lee Dumas. I cannot believe all he’s doing to empower, to equip and to encourage people to go after their dreams. I was so honored to be invited as a guest on his podcast.
He graciously allowed me to share this interview with my listening audience. Without further ado…My Interview By John Lee Dumas On Entrepreneur On Fire.
Fire Nation! If you’re not familiar with John Lee Dumas or with Fire Nation, you need to plug in! Visit EOFire[dot]com today.
Direct Link to EOFire Podcast with Brian Holmes
John Lee Dumas: “Fire Nation, we all have a history. We all have a journey. And unfortunately a lot of us keep that, the more difficult parts of our journey in our subconscious. We kind of bury it. We don’t like to think about it. Don’t like to pull it out. But the reality is it will always be a part of us. So, Brian, kind of break this down for us. What do you really want to make sure our listeners get throughout the story that you’re sharing right now?”
Find the answer here.
I am honored to have been a guest on EOFire, and had such an incredible conversation with John Lee Dumas. Do yourself a favor and become a part of Fire Nation today, and tap into the multitude of resources available!
One hindrance to moving forward that often crops up is an internal dialogue laced with pessimism, fear, and the unknown. No doubt, you’re aware of the tragic situation unfolding in Europe and the Middle East this past week, where radical extremists took the lives of hundreds of people. Of course, our thoughts and prayers are poured out over everyone affected by these tragic events.
When events like this happen, it can fan the flame of fear, especially of the unknown. I don’t believe we were created to live in a state of constant fear, however. This week, I want to unpack some deep, thoughtful points about Fearless & Forward: 3 Kind of Fear & How to Overcome Them.
The definition of fear:
An unpleasant often strong emotion, caused by anticipation or awareness of danger; An instance of this emotion; A state marked by this emotion; Anxious concern; Reason for alarm.
- The Fear of Man:
- The opinions of others
- Perceived status or lack thereof
- Loss of approval
- Loss of love
- Performance/reward (am I good enough to impress?)
- Fear of enemies or opposition (go along to get along)
- Fear of rejection
- Fear of job loss/financial ruin
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People pleasing vs. God pleasing
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Fear of Risk:
- Success and fulfillment ONLY comes to those who are willing to risk the present for the sake of a better future.
- The best things in life come to those who look risk and even failure in the eye, and DO IT anyway.
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Fear of risk (and failure) will cheat you out of the joy and success of what COULD BE and lock you into the WHAT IS.
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Fear of Failure:
- Someone once said “Failure is not an option.” Yes, it is!
- If you try and fail, at least you tried.
- Subjecting yourself to fear of failure (or fear of risk) will lock you into the present and keep you from having what God has determined in His own mind he wants you to have.
Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins. ~ Charles Stanley
Pitiful is the person who is afraid of taking risks. Perhaps this person will never be disappointed or disillusioned; perhaps she won’t suffer the way people do when they have a dream to follow. But when that person looks back – and at some point everyone looks back – she will hear her heart saying, “What have you done with the miracles that God planted in your days? What have you done with the talents God bestowed on you? You buried yourself in a cave because you were fearful of losing those talents. So this is your heritage; the certainty that you wasted your life. ~ Paul Coelho
If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down. ~Ray Bradbury
Questions to Ask Yourself: * What are your dreams? * What has God called you to accomplish or do? What business, relationship, job, book?
Last week we talked about the importance of Taking An Honest Look at where you are, and where you’re going.
This week, I want to continue in this vein and consider how we can best prepare for entering into a new season; even shifting our heart and mind toward the new opportunities that lie ahead. Dive in as we talk about Experiencing the Shift: 7 Things You Can Do to Prepare For a New Beginning.
What does it mean, to experience the shift? We’re talking about preparing to enter into a new season, and embrace the opportunities it presents. What’s next? What’s coming ahead? The shift in your heart, mind, and thinking can shift the course of your upcoming year. Confidently pursue the interests and passions you have, and place strategic goals around those interests and passions, by experiencing the shift.
The Process of Evaluating Life: * Why am I here? * What is my destiny and my calling? * Is what I am doing making a difference? * Am I doing what I was created to do? * Am I happy doing what I am doing? * Am I satisfied with the results I’m seeing in my life, year to year?
7 Things You Can Do To Prepare For a New Beginning: 1. Embrace the possibilities (the Word of God about you) If you can think it, you can do it. If you can dream it, you can have it. God has tremendous, beautiful, successful plans for your life. 2. Close out old accounts If there are unresolved issues, or if you’re carrying negative balances forward, close the account. 3. Forget the past You cannot engage this shift or a new day, if you are stuck in an old account, old deficit, or old experience. 4. Revisit – OR – Reimagine your dreams Go back and dust your dreams off. Remember your passions and interests, without filters. Write down what you see. 5. Change your thinking Go after the limiting beliefs (lies) and reprogram (renew) your mind. What do you hold as beliefs that are holding you back from realizing truths? 6. Align yourself with like-minded people Be intentional about letting some relationships go. Be specific about aligning yourself with like-minded people, who will challenge your perspective. Master mind groups are a great example. 7. Develop, write, and execute the vision Take the time to write your dream out, break it into meaningful steps and goals, so you can execute your plan.
Questions to Ask Yourself: * What old accounts do you need to close out as you approach a new year? * What possibilities await you? * What dreams do you need to re-visit or awaken? * What beliefs do you presently hold that may stand in the way of you realizing the SHIFT? * What about your relationships?
One of the most important ways we can ensure a better future, is to periodically “look back” and honestly evaluate our progress, performance, and personal mindset.
Every great leader, in sports, business, etc. that I know, takes time – especially during this time of year – to consider their mental state, progress as it relates to their goals, and their clarity concerning the way forward.
If you want to live strategically, you must be intentional about looking honestly at where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going. Today, I want to do just that as we talk about Taking An Honest Look: Questions and Considerations for Evaluating Your Year.
- Begin By Reviewing Your Goals & Dreams for 2015:
- Did you meet your goals?
- Did you exceed your goals?
- Did you fall short of your goals?
- Why?
- Were your goals realistic?
- Were your goals in line with your purpose and calling?
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Will you carry these same goals forward in 2016?
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Consider Your Year:
- Were there unexpected events that took you off point?
- How did you handle those?
- Were you able to recover and regroup?
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If not, what could you have done differently?
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Where Are You Spiritually?
- Are you closer to God today than you were in January?
- Are you confident in your identity as a son/daughter?
- Have you grown in your ability to hear His voice, and be led daily by His Spirit?
- Are you performing for approval, or are you living in His grace?
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Are you DOING or are you BEING?
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Evaluate Your Relationships: How are your relationships? Are they where you hoped they would be by the end of this year?
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Marriage
- Children
- Friends
- Strategic
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Business
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How Would You Rate Your Overall Mental Health?
- Are you full of joy and gratefulness?
- Are you positive and optimistic, or do you struggle with negativity and pessimism?
- Are you walking in peace and serenity, or do you feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed?
- What is your dominant self-talk like?
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Are there any beliefs that have popped up this year that have limited your forward progress? If yes, what are they? List them!
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How Did You Do With Priorities And Time Management?
- Which (regular) activities produced the greatest results?
- Which activities kept you busy but produced no results?
- What did you say YES to that you should have said NO to?
- What were your biggest time wasters in 2015?
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What adjustments need to be made in these areas?
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Did You Follow A Personal Development Plan?
- Did you grow personally in 2015?
- How many books did you read?
- Did you participate in educational classes?
- Are you more competent and valuable as a person today than you were in January 2015?
- Have you grown in character?
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Have you grown in influence?
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Are You Meeting Your Financial Objectives & Goals?
- Income
- Savings
- Debt Elimination
- Long Term Investments
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Retirement
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Are You Happy/Satisfied With Your Career Status?
- If you work for a company, are you experiencing frustration or satisfaction?
- If you own your own business, are you fulfilled in your current line of work?
- Are you seeing steady growth?
- Do you love or hate what you are doing?
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Do you feel stuck?
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If You Could Go Back to January 1, 2015, And Could Change ONE Thing About This Year, What Would It Be? Questions to Ask Yourself:
- Are you better off today?
- Are you making the kind of progress you know you’re capable of?
- What can you do TODAY to shift your life and set a course for a more powerful and rewarding 2016?
Whether we realize it or not, there are laws that exist and these laws, or principles, dictate the outcomes and results we experience in life.
You may remember my episode on the If/Then Principle, where we unpacked “If _(this)_, then _(that)_.”
Today on our program, I want to share a few of the most powerful principles I’ve discovered, and encourage you to live by them.
Special Announcement: * Tomorrow (10/31/2015) is the LAST DAY you can enroll in the Ties That Bind Online Traning Program. At 11:59 pm, registration ends and will not be opening again until sometime next year. * During our BETA launch, you will receive: + Access to the course + TTB Book + Course Study Guide + Course Transcripts – We took the notes for you! + All 6 session audios + Healing the Broken Soul – Bonus Course * Visit BrianHolmes.com/TIES
12 Principles Guaranteed to Bring You Great Success: 1. The Principle of Wholeness 2. The Principle of Value 3. The Principle of Integrity 4. The Principle of Vision 5. The Principle of Clarity 6. The Principle of the Target (Goals) 7. The Principle of Priorities 8. The Principle of the Seed 9. The Principle of Discipline 10. The Principle of Hard Work 11. The Principle of Personal Growth 12. The Principle of Prosperity
Questions to Ask Yourself: * How are you doing in these areas? * Are there areas in your life you desire to take to another level? * What principles are you currently observing in your life? * Which principles have you not mastered yet? * What can you implement TODAY to begin living these principles at a higher level?
Anthony de Mello shares a story of an eaglet who’s egg was found by a farmer and placed in a chicken’s nest. The eagle spent its life thinking and believing it was a chicken, rather than ever venturing out to discover who it really was. This story captures what can happen if we don’t effectively and regularly assess the relationships we have in our lives.
We’re going to address this very issue today as we talk about Relationship Inventory: Evaluating the Health & Value of Your Relationships.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ~ Jim Rohn
Characteristics of Healthy Relationships: * The other person involved in your life is committed to your overall growth. * This person is as concerned about YOUR well-being and personal health as you are. * You should NEVER be in the position of always having to be the giver. * A healthy relationship gives and receives with joy. * A healthy and meaningful relationship does not ever cause you to violate your conscience, or walk against the plan and will of God for your life. * A healthy relationship does not manipulate through anger or control, but rather, it motivates through love.
The Law of Association: Proverbs 13:20
He that walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (or destruction).
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived and misled! Evil companionships corrupt and deprave good manners and moral character.
The 7 Quality Characteristics of a Healthy, Life-Giving Relationship: * Love (as thyself) * Honor (celebration of difference) * Truth, Honesty & Integrity * Mutual Respect * Trust * Covenant (faithfulness, loyalty, commitment) * Reciprocity (an exchange of life)
We’re going to continue talking about relationships, since they’re so important. How do we navigate changes in relationships? Are all relationships meant to last a lifetime? What do you do when a relationship is tested? What do you do when a relationship’s season has come to an end? How do we steward the transitions in relationships from one level to another?
Today on the program, we will be looking at these kinds of questions, and talking about how to steward the different seasons in our relationships.
There are three things that bring change (positive or negative) to a relationship.
- Testing
- Seasons
- Personal Choice
What Brings Testing? * A traumatic event * An offense * Hurt feelings * Hard words * Betrayal
Your reaction determines how the “test” is scored.
Seasons Not every relationship is for a season. As you move from one season in your life to another, your relationships will have to adjust, grow with you, or be left behind. As tough as it may be to reconcile, as your life moves to the next level, not every relationship you have today is meant to continue on with you.
Personal Choice When you DECIDE to do things differently in life, this creates a demand on your present relationships that needs to be answered. Some people feel you’ve abandoned them, when simply, you’ve answered God’s calling in your life.
7 Things You Can Do When A Relationship Is Tested 1. Don’t react ~ Be still. 2. Pray 3. Look in the mirror and take accountability 4. When your heart is right, go to the person and talk 5. Seek to understand 6. Offer and receive forgiveness 7. Reset
7 Things To Check When A Relationship Is Changing 1. Know Thyself: Understand your season 2. Is the relationship ending or changing? 3. What is God requiring of you? 4. Has your change in direction constituted a separation or an adjustment? 5. Is this relationship moving from one level to another? 6. Has the relationship become toxic or limiting to your moving with God in this season? 7. Does this relationship add to you or take from you?
What is life outside of relationships? Can relationships be categorized? What about different seasons of our lives – how do relationships play in to those? What’s the best way to navigate relationships when conflict or tests arise?
Today, we’re going to be looking at the answers to these questions and talking about The Relationship Factor: How to Identify, Steward, and Benefit From the People Who Matter Most.
I am deeply concerned about the state of relationships these days. While technology is wonderful, I worry our electronic engagement is replacing real relationships and conversations.
Facebook or texting does not constitute valuable relationships or conversation.
These kinds of relationship points have become easy, comfortable, and even cop-out ways to feel as though we’re not alone. But – are we really in relationship?
God Did Not Create Us To Do Life Alone: “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18)
A dear mentor and friend once told us, “We need two things in life to be successful: relationships and resources. If you need to choose between the two, always choose relationships, because Godly, intentional relationships will always lead you to the resources you need.”
While each person is uniquely different from another with their own strengths or talents, relationship is what makes life work.
We are designed by God to have meaningful connections, relationships, and to interface with other people in order to add value and receive value.
Categories of Relationships: * Family * Mentors, teachers, spiritual leaders * Friends and peers * Workplace relationships * Casual Acquaintances
The Circle Test: * Self: Know who you are. * Family: Spouse, children, parent, siblings, etc. * Close Friends: How close are they, really? * Acquaintances: Tribe * The Crowd * Enemies
Life has a way of bringing us to circumstances and situations we can’t explain. Things that leave us with more questions than answers. Sometimes, it causes us to even question God, His love for us, and why He would all us to go through this.
What can we do when we’re going through hell in our life? How can we come out the other side?
Today, I want us to talk about this, in an interview with one of my great friends and mentors, Mike Massa.
About Mike Massa Mike and Nancy Massa formed Convergence Ministries as an extension of their work in Dallas, Texas. Mike is an author, speaker, and an adjunct professor at Christ For The Nations.
Connect With Mike: TeamConvergence.Org
Excellence is a mindset that drives us to do better. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where mediocrity and doing things half-way have become the norm. Just getting by. Doing just enough. It’s a sorry way to live.
Today, I want to give you a framework for not only living an uncommon life, but for pursuing EXCELLENCE. Living the life God designed for you! Today, we’re going to look at The Pursuit of Excellence: How You Can Live An Uncommon Life.
Real leaders not only strive to excel, but are committed to doing MORE than what is expected of them. They’re all-in and go the extra mile.
Solomon once said, “whatever your hands find to do, do it with everything in your being, because you won’t be able to do anything from the grave.”
At the end of our lives, our legacy with either be s/he lived life to the fullest and made a mark – or – their life wasn’t anything spectacular.
What is Excellence? Simply stated, excellence is possessing good qualities in high degree.
- Says a lot about who we are, how we’re perceived in the present, and how we’ll be remembered in the future.
- Excellence positions us for unusual opportunities.
- Excellence is to go beyond average, climb higher than the set standard, and climb higher than others’ expectations.
What is Uncommon? * An uncommon life is the result of uncommon results. * Uncommon results are the result of uncommon actions. * Uncommon actions are the result of uncommon commitment. * Uncommon commitment is the result of an uncommon belief. * Uncommon beliefs are the result of a refusal to be average or ordinary, and a resolve to be who God says you already are.
My 3-part Challenge To You: * Refuse to conduct your life in a mediocre fashion. * Reject the notion that getting by and doing just enough is an acceptable mindset. * Renew your personal commitment to excellence in everything you do.
It is fitting that we begin the second 100 episodes talking about The Ties That Bind. For several weeks, we have visited this subject, and even given you a backdrop for how this story unfolded. The book and the training has literally gone around the world, and changed the lives of thousands of people, but the truth is, we’ve barely scratched the surface.
Today on the program, it is my privilege to announce we have officially launched The Ties That Bind online training program, making it possible for ANYONE who has an internet connection, ANYWHERE in the world, to now access this training and experience for themselves.
In this episode, I want to share with you How You Can Benefit from This Powerful New Tool!
The Course and What We Cover Let’s begin with this. Everything we do here at Strategic Living is based on what we call the 4 Cornerstones.
- Personal Healing
- Personal Discovery
- Personal Development
- Personal Deployment
This powerful process must begin with Personal Healing! It is difficult, if not impossible to see yourself as God sees you if there are areas in your life that are un-reconciled, unresolved, or un-healed. Wherever there is the condition of perpetual brokenness, a person is less likely to realize their full potential, or experience the fullness of life God intended.
As the SOUL goes, so goes every area of our lives.
This is where the Ties That Bind comes in. The Ties That Bind is a very important and strategic part of the Personal Healing cornerstone. It addresses unhealthy and debilitating connections we have with people, places, memories, etc. These connections may be emotional, spiritual, business related, or even religious in nature. Whatever they are, if proven unhealthy, they must be addressed and resolved.
In the TTB training program, we walk a person through a very specific process of personal assessment, relationship inventorying, and fruit-to-root evaluation. Ultimately, this training helps you to IDENTIFY the “Ties” that are present in your life that are detrimental, or maybe even destructive as it relates to the realization of your God-given potential and purpose.
Visit BrianHolmes.com/ties to find out more about how YOU can enroll in this life-changing course Download my FREE Personal Transformation Profile!
This is such an exciting day, as we’re celebrating 100 episodes! It’s quite a feeling to know we’ve reached out to spread the message of healing, success, and purpose, consistently.
We’ve got some special guests and messages as we look back to the beginning of the Strategic Living Podcast, and also as we look ahead and forecast the vision of its future. Tune in as we are Celebrating 100 Episodes!
It’s party time! We’re celebrating in style today as we officially cap 100 original podcast episodes. We’ve put in a lot of work to make this happen, and have tangibly seen the fruit of our labor since.
In 2012, we went to a retreat and so much changed for us with regard to our vision for strategic living. We wanted to spread the right message to the right people, affecting them in the right ways.
In 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, I attended a speaking conference solely with the intention of learning more about public speaking. What really happened, was I met people in the lane I didn’t yet know I needed to get into. I met Dan Miller, and heard about (then later met) Cliff Ravenscraft and Michael Hyatt.
We launched our podcast in July 2013, and the rest – as they say – is history!
Special Thanks: I want to take some time to share some special thanks to some of my heroes, mentors, and dear friends:
- Kevin Williams
- Michael Hyatt
- Cliff Ravenscraft
- Richard Heard
- Dan Miller
- Shuronda Scott
- Mike Massa
- Mark Chironna
- Ray Edwards
- My Regency Mastermind Group
- Matthew Casteel
- Val Kleppen, my assistant
- and so many others!
Special thanks to YOU! My audience! Without you tuning in, sharing our message and helping us grow our reach, none of this would be possible. Your feedback, loyalty, and friendship has been incredible, and I could not do any of this without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Of course, I would be bereft if I didn’t thank the most special person on earth to me and who has supported me through everything I’ve had to do to get to this point. My wife, Sabrina. I want to shout it from the mountaintops how much I love, appreciate and value her, and how much her support has meant to me. Thank you, Sabrina.
What’s Next? Looking Ahead: Content
- More content, focused especially on building people up.
More interviews with powerful influencers
- We’ve been so fortunate to have some incredible guests, and this is something that will continue.
Brian Holmes and Strategic Living Institute hosted conferences and seminars
- Stay tuned for our first seminar series beginning in October of this year!
Online courses and personal development programs
- See the announcements section below for more information on our realized-dream of sharing The Ties That Bind in the form of an online course, launching soon!
Group Coaching
- 2016 will start off this phenomenal method of coaching. Stay tuned for more details.
Our commitment is to continue pursuing our mission and purpose with earnest … Transforming minds, developing leaders, and changing nations.
Most people never experience the life that is theirs by design. They lose their way, become disillusioned, confused, or have simply given up.
Today, I want to give you a framework for reclaiming your life. The one God designed for you! Today, we’re going to look at How You Can Reconcile the Past, Re-Engage Your Dreams, and Realize Your Full Potential.
We’re inching up on the launch of our The Ties That Bind online course! This is a significant time, not only in my life, but in our company, in getting this message out to take personal healing and development to the world.
I’ve often talked about The Four Cornerstones For Strategic Living (Personal Healing, Personal Discovery, Personal Development, and Personal Deployment), and today I want to dive a little deeper into the Personal Healing part.
Three Major Areas: There are three major areas that cause us to miss out on living life to the fullest:
- Past Issues that go unaddressed or remain unresolved
- Dismissal of – or – Disconnect from the dreams and desires of our heart
- Limiting Beliefs that cause us to see life through a skewed set of lenses.
So how do we do we approach these areas, and how do we tap into a fuller, more rewarding life? Reconcile the Past: * Take a close, honest look * Acknowledge the hurts, disappointments, and failures * Forgive those who wronged you * Untie yourself from unhealthy and paralyzing connections (unhealthy soul ties) * Refuse to allow anyone or anything to keep taking you backwards * Walk away from relationships that are holding you back * Close the books on the previous chapters, and begin writing a new chapter..
Analyze and Address Limiting Beliefs: * Examine the truth as you now see it * Identify beliefs and ideas that are restrictive and not serving your overall potential * Isolate these beliefs, and systematically erase them * Replace them with new truth
Re-Engage Your Dreams: * What have you given up on? * What dreams or plans did you dismiss or walk away from because life got in the way? * Who do you want to meet? * Where do you want to travel? * Believe again * Take steps to re-engage ~ Go For It!
Commit to Personal Growth and Development: * Hire a coach/Find a mentor * Read/Study * Online courses * Address incompetency through learning * Be willing to start small * Develop a strategic plan for your life
Do Something!: * Take action * Baby steps * Walk it out * Be accountable * Join a mastermind
You CAN reconcile the past, re-engage your dreams, and realize your full potential!
Today is going to be a reflective episode. You’ve heard us talk about The Ties That Bind over the years, and now we’re about to enter a new chapter in the life of this incredible work.
I thought it might be interesting for you to hear the back story, how my understanding of these principles came about, and the evolution of my perspective on them. Also, I really want you to hear the WHY behind this powerful truth. This is an exciting time for us in taking this message to the world!
My Story: View at this link.
- My Childhood
- Abuse
- Struggles
- Marriage
- Crisis
- Pathways (2000)
The Unfolding: * We began to learn about the soul of man; how that compartment is made up of the memories, the wounds, the disappointments, the hurts, and the beliefs that are formed out of our experiences in life. * We began to understand how the condition of our soul determined the health and power in every area of life. * We were challenged to learn there are forces at work in our lives that govern the outcomes in our lives. * These forces are soul connections, or as we often refer to them, soul ties.
The Training Was Born: * 2004 – taught series at church. * Produced CDs * Recorded DVD series * 2007 – published the book. * Sold over 10,000 copies in 12 nations * Have been conducting live intensives all over the world since 2006
The Best Part: * We’re now about to take this training to another level! * Not only do I feel we’re just getting started, but I feel it is a big part of my mission to expand the reach of this message around the world. + More live encounter seminars. + Training teams to administer The Ties That Bind training in a facilitation environment through the DVD curriculum
You’ve heard it said one is lucky if in their lifetime they have only a handful of true friends. The truth is, a person is incredibly fortunate if they have two or three all-in kind of friends in their life! I’m fortunate to be sharing one of those friends in my own life with you today.
Relationships come and go. As you and I grow and pursue what the Father has for us, we find not everyone is willing to go where we’re called to go.
In today’s episode I want to share a little more about my journey the last few years, and how along the way it’s been necessary to evaluate relationships and make adjustments in order to continue our progress. I’m thrilled to bring to you my Interview With Dennis McIntee!
More about Dennis: For the last 25 years, Dennis has traveled extensively working with leaders to uncover their personal and organizational constraints in order to build high-trust, high-performance cultures. The first 15 years of his career was in pastoral ministry in the U.S. and Europe.
A whole new world opened up to Dennis when he realized these same principles that changed people’s lives could also change their companies. In 2004, he formed The Leadership Development Group to help leaders win at the game of work and the business of life.
Dennis is passionate about helping leaders develop their coaching skills. When a leader improves, their organization improves. He keynotes frequently at leadership seminars, as well as appearing in magazines, newspapers, trade journals, and on national radio and TV.
He is the author of The Power of Pursuit, People Smart, Time Mastery, and most recently The 8 Qualities of Drama Free Teams.
Disappointed In Your Team’s Results? Are you frustrated because your team doesn’t produce results fast enough? Stressed out because you spend your time putting out fires produced by team drama? The 8 Qualities Of Drama Free Teams will give you the tools you need to accomplish more in less time. This practical handbook shows you 8 different leadership strategies you can use today to see immediate changes in your organization. You don’t have to tolerate the drama. You can lead a high-trust, high-performance team that produces results. And you can do it without putting in more hours, and without working harder. Inside this book, you’ll discover: • The one coaching question that causes people to take personal responsibility. • A proven feedback formula that creates behavioral change. • How to unlock the 4 drivers of human motivation to help your team get more done in less time. Read The 8 Qualities Of Drama Free Teams and start doing more, with less stress, and zero drama.
Connect With Dennis: Dennis’ website: leadershipprocess.com Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Closing Thoughts: Pastors in transition who would like to reach out to Brian and Dennis may do so by E-mailing us at support@brianholmes.com.
I believe most people live a very common life, experience very common results, and expect very common things. I’m here to tell you average and ordinary are overrated. The status quo is NOT what you were created to know or be.
On today’s program, I want to share with you living uncommonly. That’s right: today, I’m sharing 10 Keys For Living An Uncommon Life.
Defining “Uncommon”:
uncommon: not often found, not often seen, not often experienced; not oridnary. To be reamarkable, exceptional, and not ordinarily encountered.
What if you possessed these qualities in every area of your life? What if when people looked at you, they saw a model they desired to emulate? I believe – with all my heart – THIS is the destiny of every son and daughter of God.
I believe when we begin to live the UNCOMMON life as God designed us, we become change agents to the environment around us.
When People See Us They Should See: 1. Uncommon Lifestyle 2. Uncommon Health 3. Uncommon Success 4. Uncommon Relationships 5. Uncommon Peace and Joy 6. Uncommon Wisdom 7. Uncommon Knowledge 8. Uncommon Faith 9. Uncommon Leadership 10. Uncommon Influence
10 Keys for Living an Uncommon Life: 1. Know who you are 2. Refuse to conform to the expectations of the commoner 3. Decide you will enter the UNCOMMON class 4. Don’t do the things that most people do 5. Do the things that most people won’t do 6. Declare your independence from the common mindset 7. Capture a vision for your uncommon life 8. Be willing to stand up and be different 9. Lead 10. Stay true to yourself and trust in God’s design
Closing Thoughts: Are you ready to leave the common and embrace the Uncommon Life?
Gail and her husband Tony join me in studio for a fantastic interview about seeing beyond. Gail has an incredible story you’ll hear about today, and you can read about in our show notes below.
Gail, originally from St. Louis, MO, and began her career in ministering to people by singing. She still has quite a love for music, but her story has allowed her to minister in new ways. After she met her husband and started a family, things started to change. Were they for the better? Or worse? You’ll find out on today’s episode!
More About Gail: Gail McWilliams is a published author, seasoned speaker, and hosts her own national radio feature; Seeing Beyond with Gail McWilliams. Gail’s reach is global. Her love is people and her passion is leaders.
Her signature book, Seeing Beyond, with forward by Zig Ziglar has captured hearts around the world leaving them wanting more.
When it comes to faith in God, Gail McWilliams’ life shines as a beacon in the night. As a seasoned speaker, multi-published author, and national radio host, she has a compelling message with a voice of hope in the darkest hour. Her courageous and gripping story of gradually losing her eyesight while giving birth to her five children is the backdrop to her life message: “Vision sees no limits!” Gail says,
In my darkest hour vision was birthed, and when you have vision, you can see even in the darkest places of life.
Gail is a resilient visionary who has overcome major obstacles with faith and joy. She captivates audiences by inspiring them to live life on purpose, with purpose. Gail inspires action, delivering a renewed focus of life in Christ Jesus and motivation to live beyond limitations. She is humorous, challenging, and completely unforgettable.
You can also find Gail here: * Gail McWilliams [dot] com * Facebook * Twitter
It’s been said one is lucky (and even blessed) if in their lifetime they have a handful of true friends. As you and I grow in life, and pursue the things the Father has for us, we will find not everyone is willing to go where you are going.
I want to share with you a little more about my journey the last few years, and how along the way, it has been necessary to evaluate relationships, and make adjustments in order to continue our progress. In this episode I’ll address Change & Relationships: 7 Things You Must Settle In Your Heart.
An interesting exercise is to go back in your life and make a list of all the “friends” you’ve had. Then, consider how many of those same people are no longer a part of your life. Ask yourself, “why?”
Everything, even relationships, has a time and a season. Some relationships last a lifetime, though those are few and far between. Most relationships are seasonal; they come into our life for a time and serve a wonderful purpose in that season, but then they are gone.
7 Things You Must Settle In Your Heart Regarding Relationships: 1. Not everyone is called to walk the same path. 2. Not everyone says “YES!” to God’s invitation to follow Him into unchartered territory. 3. Not all relationships will transition with you into a new season or place. 4. You cannot expect someone to understand if they are not on the same path as you. 5. Most people choose the status quo – – it’s just easier. 6. In order to follow the Father’s voice, we oftentimes must leave what is familiar and embrace the unknown. 7. Trust God will bring NEW and meaningful relationships in your life that will build you up, encourage you, and cheer you on to purpose.
Closing Thoughts:
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~ Proverbs 18:24
It’s been said one is lucky (and even blessed) if in their lifetime they have a handful of true friends. As you and I grow in life, and pursue the things the Father has for us, we will find not everyone is willing to go where you are going.
I want to share with you a little more about my journey the last few years, and how along the way, it has been necessary to evaluate relationships, and make adjustments in order to continue our progress. In this episode I’ll address Change & Relationships: 7 Things You Must Settle In Your Heart.
An interesting exercise is to go back in your life and make a list of all the “friends” you’ve had. Then, consider how many of those same people are no longer a part of your life. Ask yourself, “why?”
Everything, even relationships, has a time and a season. Some relationships last a lifetime, though those are few and far between. Most relationships are seasonal; they come into our life for a time and serve a wonderful purpose in that season, but then they are gone.
7 Things You Must Settle In Your Heart Regarding Relationships: 1. Not everyone is called to walk the same path. 2. Not everyone says “YES!” to God’s invitation to follow Him into unchartered territory. 3. Not all relationships will transition with you into a new season or place. 4. You cannot expect someone to understand if they are not on the same path as you. 5. Most people choose the status quo – – it’s just easier. 6. In order to follow the Father’s voice, we oftentimes must leave what is familiar and embrace the unknown. 7. Trust God will bring NEW and meaningful relationships in your life that will build you up, encourage you, and cheer you on to purpose.
Closing Thoughts:
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~ Proverbs 18:24
Our tendency as human beings is to live in past while being in the present. We tend to see our present and our tomorrow through the lens of yesterday.
In this episode, I want to challenge you with this thought: Right NOW is the best time for you to decide how your future will play out.
Where you’ve been is not where you are going!
My Story: * I was raised in a very traditional and legalistic Christian home. * I moved to Jackson, MS, to attend Bible School. Then I dropped out! * I traveled around the country and for 12 months, made my ’87 Honda Accord a “University on Wheels”. * I met Sabrina in 1988, we married in 1989, and moved to Dallas. * In 1996, I met Bishop Tudor Bismark and began traveling all over the world. * I planted a church. Wrote a book. God continues to invite me on a journey to the unknown.
12 Things I’ve Learned On My Journey: 1. Every place I have been, prepared me in some way for the next level. 2. God invites us on a journey into unchartered areas. The choice is ours as to whether we go. 3. If you say yes, you must be willing to leave the past behind you, and by faith, walk into what is unseen. 4. Don’t look for familiar landmarks in new territory – they’re not there. 5. What was excellent on the previous level is mediocre at best on the new level. 6. Not every relationship you have will transition with you when you decide to go where God is taking you. 7. New relationships (strategic relationships) always show up in our life at the right time. 8. Be prepared for unexpected opportunities to present themselves to you. 9. Set aside pre-suppositions, and allow the Holy Spirit to ignite creative ideas, uncanny methods, and relevant models for the assignment he has given you. 10. Walk in the place where you are going. 11. What you talk about is what you are committed to. 12. One day is enough.
Closing Thoughts:
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead ~ Philippians 3:13
I am a firm believer every person ever born has the potential to do something significant with their lives. Success is no respecter of persons; it is attainable by anybody willing to follow certain principles and work diligently to achieve their goals.
There are formulas and keys that assure us tremendous success. Today I’ll share with you The P Factor: 7 P’s that make up this formula, helping us to become all we can be.
The 7 P’s of The P Factor: 1. Priorities Examine the evidence. Where are your priorities, and do they need adjusting?
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Planning Develop the discipline of planning. You cannot measure progress against plans that are not created.
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Preparation The opportunities that present themselves to you will be proportionate to the preparation you have done.
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Pursuing Before we do anything, we must decide we are worth it!
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Patience Some things just take time.
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Persistence Failure is not the enemy of success; quitting is! Keep going – your dream is worthy of one more push!
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Performance There is a stage that has been built for YOU. Step up and perform (accomplish, carry out, etc.)
Closing Thoughts: Evaluate The P Factor formula against your own life:
- Are you living your priorities?
- Have you taken time to develop a strategic plan?
- Are you focused on the necessary preparations?
- Are you pursuing the things God has placed in your heart?
- Are you willing to be patient and allow the process to unfold?
- Will you stick to it and never quit?
- Are you willing to step up on your stage and do what you were created to do?
On today’s episode, I talk with my friend and fellow masterminder and coach, Aaron Walker. I met Aaron through Dan Miller several years ago. He demonstrates incredible passion for success, prosperity, and personal growth, and I’m so excited to share our conversation with you today. Truly – we covered so much powerful content in this episode, this might be one of your favorite interviews! I know it’s one of mine.
Aaron also has a special opportunity for our Strategic Living Podcast listening community. See the details below!
A Little About Aaron: Businessman and Life Coach, Aaron T. Walker, has inspired many through his leadership, mentorship, and consistent pursuit of excellence. He enjoys helping others and believes experience is a great teacher. 35 years of entrepreneurship and marriage have given Aaron a wealth of experience. Aaron continues to reach new heights and broaden his perspective of the terrain by examining his experiences and growing from them.
Aaron is without question a veteran entrepreneur. Starting his first business at 18 and selling to a Fortune 500 company nine short years later demonstrates Aaron’s passion for succeeding. Unwilling to rest on past success Aaron started, bought and sold eight successful companies over the past 36 years. Having a strong desire for personal development has kept Aaron in a weekly mastermind group for more than a decade with Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Ken Abraham and seven other notable Nashvillians. Aaron has enjoyed a 35-year marriage with his beautiful wife, Robin. Today Aaron spends the majority of his time HELPING MEN GROW IN SUCCESS AND SIGNIFICANCE as President and Founder of VIEW FROM THE TOP, A PREMIER life and business coaching RESOURCE.
A Little Of Aaron’s Story As He Tells It: At 13 years old, he started working in his dad’s pawn shop. He realized at 15 years old, it was what he wanted to run as his life’s career. Taking night classes and summer classes, he graduated early so he could work. He bought his forth store at 26 years old, and sold to a Fortune 500 company at 27 years old. He was an early business bloomer! The lack of mentors, however, sent him into a spiral of confusion and disconnectedness after selling his business at such a young age.
In 2001, Aaron hit a pedestrian who ran out in front of him, and tragically, that gentleman passed away three days later. It was a turning point in Aaron’s life, and he needed to take a step back. Aaron regrouped, went into construction, and then began coaching. He started “A View From the Top” a few years ago, and coaches and mentors men from all over.
He loves coaching men live intentionally and on purpose, and having the life God has created for them.
Special Offer For Brian Holmes’ Listeners From Aaron: Self-Assessment Questionnaires www.viewfromthetop.com/slp You can also find Aaron here:
View From The Top
On today’s episode, we’ll talk about feeding your spirit, soul, and body, so you are ready to perform at your full potential every day! We’ll be talking about the power and leverage you gain by having a distinct, purposeful morning routine. I’ll also share with you my own personal routine and how it has changed my life.
I believe we’re designed to work, do things, and pour ourselves out – giving out of our essence. But we must also be filling ourselves up and be poured into. We cannot give what we do not have!
How can we ensure we’re ready to be poured out? How can we position ourselves every single day with a powerful advantage?
The Morning Routine:
Your first ritual that you do during the day is the highest leveraged ritual, by far, because it has the effect of setting your mind, and setting the context, for the rest of your day. ~ Eben Pagan
My morning routine was definitely a routine, but not at all a productive one, or one that contributed to my calling or priorities. It’s important to have a wholistic approach to your morning routine!
Spirit, Soul & Body
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Thess. 5:23
We need to feed our spiritual, emotional, and physical needs!
Every day I wake up and decide that I will start my day by practicing the discipline of filling up.
Spirit Time focused on:
- God
- His word (the Bible)
- Devotions
- Prayer
- Listening to the voice of God (Leadership, direction, ideas, etc.)
- Audio Bible
Soul * Nurturing my mind + Beliefs + Affirmations + Envisioning my day (seeing it the way I want it to be) + Picturing my goals as achieved and realized * Practicing the habit of gratefulness + Who am I grateful for? + What am I grateful for? + Who can I call and express my gratitude? * Learning/Personal development + Reading books - Audible.com - Take the Stairs, Rory Vaden + Listening to audio programs - Mastering the Attitude of Achievement, Lou Tice
Body * Getting your body moving: + increases blood flow + releases endorphins + increases metabolism + supercharges your brain cells * Increase your energy * Moving your body increases your focus, clarity, and productivity!
5 Things To Consider As You Establish a Morning Routine: 1. Start your day the night before!
- Get a good night’s sleep! (Go to bed earlier!)
- Have a plan (checklist) for your morning
- Decide on a special place where you can have uninterrupted focus for you
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Set your workout clothes by your bed
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Start early
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Give yourself adequate time to complete your new routine without pressure
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Stay on plan
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This requires structure and discipline for a while
- It may feel awkward as you work on creating new habits and rituals
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Stay with it
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Employ the support of loved ones and friends
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Let a few trusted people in on your plan
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Ask them to keep you accountable, and help you avoid distractions and interruptions
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Mix and Match
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Walking/Running and Listening
Closing Thoughts: A purposeful morning routine will set you up for a powerful, positive, and productive day! Always remember that you must feed your spirit, soul, and body. Find what works for you, and do the necessary work to make it a lifestyle.
On today’s episode, I talk with my new friend Matt McWilliams about overcoming limiting beliefs, and embracing potential to not only change yourself, but become a world-changer. In this in-depth conversation, we look at causes, effects, and behaviors associated with the issue of change. So many people struggle with this on some level, and many have no idea how significantly they are being affected by it in their day to day lives.
Matt also has a special opportunity for our Strategic Living Podcast listening community. See the details below!
A Little About Matt: I am a published author in the book Internet Marketing From The Real Experts and have published countless articles in industry trade magazines. I was born and raised in the south and currently live in Fort Wayne, IN with my lovely wife Tara and daughter Aracelli.
My consulting company, Matt McWilliams Consulting, Inc. (that name took me forever to come up with), has clients all over the country in various industries ranging from educational courses to consumer goods and the financial industry. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my wife and daughter, running, reading, and long days of doing yard work listening to various podcasts.
A Little Of Matt’s Story As He Tells It: I have worked in small business and online marketing for as long as I can remember. That is mostly because I could never make it in a “real job.”
At the age of 23, I was fired by my dad (the day after my birthday). That was the second time I’d been fired. Thankfully, I had started my own company on the side in online marketing. It only took two years for that company to go under.
At the age of 25, I was arrested and faced up to 42 years in prison. By the age of 27, I was an executive in a thriving start-up. We won the Best in Business Award from the Nashville Business Journal that year and by year’s end, we had 50+ people working for us. I was personally leading a team of 12 people…and had no clue what I was doing. I sucked as a leader and everyone knew it. I was their first employee and helped start the company above the CFO’s garage. I had no business leading a team, but somehow we managed to succeed in spite of me.
I was fired from there (my third firing in case you’re counting) but went on to find success at a new company. In 2010 I was recognized as the top Affiliate Marketing Manager in the world by the Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards. I’ve won numerous other awards in that field as well.
I left that company (the first time in my life that I left a job by choice) and went back to the previous company. Yes, the one that fired me. Eight months later, the CEO left and the company laid off more than half the staff. I was one of those people. Firing number four (and it will be my last).
So there I was in November of 2011. Unemployed, brand new house, a six-month old daughter and stay-at-home mom to support. That was the moment I decided to change the world.
Just kidding. That was the moment I decided to panic. But, once I calmed down, I resolved to live a life of meaning and purpose. I came to realize that I can and should change the world. I resolved never again to be dependent on an employer for income or others for approval. And I resolved to leave a legacy.
Due to the path I’ve taken to this point, I have a unique viewpoint on the ever-changing world in which we live. Most importantly, I have failed at mostly everything I have tried the first time. Thankfully, I usually learned from those mistakes.
And that is good news for you. I invite you to learn with me and from me. I invite you to leave your own legacy. I invite you to change the world. Are you in?
Special Offer For Brian Holmes’ Listeners From Matt: Learn How To Destroy Your Limiting Beliefs Workbook www.MattMcWilliams.com/slp You can also find Matt here: Twitter: @MattMcWilliams2 LinkedIn: Profile Google Plus: +Matt McWilliams
We spoke last week about becoming STUCK in a present state because of limiting beliefs. Once we’re prepared to change our thoughts and perceptions so we can go beyond the boundaries we’ve set for ourselves, how do we start? Enter a personal coach. If you’ve ever considered enlisting a coach in your life – and especially if you haven’t – today’s podcast is just for you.
In this episode, I want to share with you 10 Reasons Hiring A Personal Coach Can Take Your Life To The Next Level.
Who Needs a coach? … Wait for it … Everyone! Whether an athlete, CEO, Mom, Entrepreneur, Student – everyone, including YOU – needs a coach.
There are several different kinds of coaches, who all speak into different areas of life. Some examples of types of coaches are: Life, Career, Executive, Leadership, Success, Health & Wellness, Soul, Financial, Academic, Transition, Investment, Spiritual – and the list goes on!
10 Reasons Why Hiring A Personal Coach Can Take Your Life To The Next Level: 1. A personal/professional coach provides objective insights.
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A coach provides real accountability, encouragement and support.
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A coach helps you identify your purpose, and gain clarity on how to pursue your life’s work.
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A coach challenges the status quo, and pushes you to become your very best.
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A coach provides perspective and helps you to see your blindspots.
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A coach helps you identify, and set meaningful goals, aligned with your purpose.
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A coach can provide ideas and solutions you may not have thought of on your own.
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A coach helps you identify limiting beliefs, and guides you in the process of changing them.
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A coach provides you with tools that will transform the way you live your life.
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A coach is a guide, a mentor, a friend, and the one person in your life that will tell you the truth, even if it hurts!
Closing Thoughts: Every great and successful leader, CEO, sports star, musician, or guru has one thing in common. They all have one or more coaches. Get the edge today. Hire a personal/business coach, and take your life or business to the next level!
“Everyone needs a coach. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a basketball player, a tennis player, a gymnast or a bridge player.” — Bill Gates
We can actually become STUCK in a present state because of limiting beliefs. The truth is most of what we struggle with in our lives, is not because of someone, or something outside of ourselves. It is because of our underlying core beliefs about life, worth, value, ability, etc.
If we can tune into the thoughts and the self talk taking place in our minds, and change our picture of what is possible, we can change our world.
In this episode, I want to share with you Four Steps For Overcoming Limiting Beliefs.
How you see yourself, your life, relationships, money, success, God, the opposite sex … has a direct bearing on how you will EXPERIENCE these things.
These kinds of beliefs completely paralyze us from becoming all God has intended us to be. You must change your mind, so you can change your world.
4 Steps for Overcoming Limiting Beliefs:
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Identify the Limiting Belief
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Identify marker moments
- Identify models
- Identify imposed identities
- Identify words and ideas adopted as truth
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Identify opinions of others/yourself
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Isolate
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Stop that! That is not who I am.
- That is not how I behave.
- That believe no longer serves me.
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That is an untruth, therefore I will not align myself with it.
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Reframe
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What if…..?
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Ask yourself questions so you can reframe what really IS possible.
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Replace
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What is the truth?
- How do I effectively replace the old with the new?
- Word pictures
Closing Thoughts: As a man thinketh, so is he. We act in accordance with the truth as we believe it to be. In what holds you back in your life, you’ll need to change your mind so you can change your world. Remember these four steps for overcoming limiting beliefs.
Just as a home or other building is constructed on a foundation, so our lives must be built on a proper foundation. As the foundation goes, so goes that which is built on it! In some parts of the world today, they still use a building method involving cornerstones. A cornerstone is a foundational anchor.
In this episode, I want to share with you the Four Cornerstones each person must have in order to live their lives successfully and strategically!
4 Cornerstones For Strategic Living:
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Personal Healing:
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Identify broken places in our lives
- Identify limiting beliefs
- Bring brokenness to light so God can heal
- Confess faults and learn the value of authenticity
- Receive the Father’s love
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Know we are accepted by and approved of by Him
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Personal Discovery:
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Who am I? Why am I here?
- Identity
- Talents, skills, abilities
- Personality styles
- Passions & dreams
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Convergence
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Personal Development:
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Self-improvement
- Audio programs
- Reading books (or audio books!)
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Training/Development
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Personal Deployment:
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During the journey, you must step into your new season.
- Preparation is useless if you never engage the purpose for which you have prepared!
- Leave your comfort zone; wander into unknown territory.
Closing Thoughts: As we live and grow, we are constantly going through the cycles of these four cornerstones. Every level requires a greater level of healing, a greater level of discovery, a greater level of development, and that we are activated for the new place of assignment!
What stage are you in? God knows the plans He has for you (Jer 29:11)…let’s engage them!
On today’s episode, I talk with my friend Mark DeJesus about his book, Exposing The Rejection Mindset. In this powerful conversation, we look at the causes, effects, and behaviors associated with this terrible, yet common issue: rejection. So many people struggle with this on some level, and many have no idea how significantly they are being affected by it in their day to day lives. In this interview, you will learn how to:
- Confront unresolved brokenness and the masks that we wear in relationships.
- End the slave life of performance, perfectionism and people pleasing.
- Walk free from constant busyness and hyper-driven living.
- Let go of relationship burdens you should not be carrying.
- Address the toxic relationships around you.
- Break addictive habits and addict living.
- Love and accept yourself right where you are.
- End the twisted communication that goes in in relationships.
- Take the limits off where you are stuck in breaking free.
- Practical steps on walking free from rejection.
- Develop a healthy lens of God, yourself and your relationships.
- Get out of isolation, get back out there and live an authentic life!
I pray you are impacted by this episode, and that as a result, you begin the process of healing in your own life.
About Mark DeJesus Mark DeJesus was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut and has been a native of the state all his life. His passion for New England and love for people runs deep. Mark has been passionately pursuing God since the days of his youth. He remembers believing in God at an early age and recalls responding to the call of God during his middle school years. Much of his encounters with God at a young age prepared him for what God had in store.
Mark has been involved in reaching, teaching and empowering people since 1995, equipping people in various roles, including, youth, music and speaker. Mark’s deepest passion is that of a speaker, preacher, teacher and prophetic exhorter to those in and out of the church. His desire is to help people recognize their need for heart transformation. His message involves getting to the root of issues in our lives that contribute to the breakdown of our relationships, our health and our day to day peace.
Mark’s message comes from a personal passion, stemming out of his own spirit-soul-body renovation that occurred in his life, setting him free from mental battles and many physical infirmities. Through his own breakthrough and personal transformation, Mark is on a passionate journey of lighting the fires of spiritual renovation in people’s lives. His heart is to equip people to discover a transformed life from the inside out. He carries a heart of restoration to to see God heal breakdowns in relationship; with God, with themselves and with others.
In 2005, Mark met the woman of his dreams, Melissa, who joined him in the pursuit of wholeness and transformation. Married in 2006, Mark and Melissa ventured from a staff pastoral position to pioneer a new ministry from the ground up. Turning Hearts Ministries began and has remained a ministry dedicated to inside out transformation. Located in East Hartford, CT, Turning Hearts is also a headquarters church base where the local and regional work center from.
Their work involves healing broken hearts, setting people free and encouraging people in their identity. Their calling and focus is to address the spiritual strongholds, bondage and blocks that keep people from wholeness, health and freedom. They minister healing to the body, mind and spirit by addressing spiritually rooted issues that contribute to the breakdown of our wholeness. They also carry a deep desire to see people restored and to build healthy relationships and families.
In addition to their ministry outreach, Turning Hearts Ministries is also an established local church fellowship. The heart of the THM local body is to nurture a culture where lives can be loved, touched, changed and equipped so that the region and beyond can be effected for the Kingdom of God.
Mark also founded Transformed You, a communication platform for Mark’s teachings, writing and broadcasts to be shared and are designed to encourage people in their journey of transformation.
Mark and Melissa live in Manchester, Connecticut, and are committed to raising their two wonderful children, Maximus John who was born in 2008 and Abigail Hope, who arrived in 2010. They value their family as a high priority and seek to minister out of the overflow of what God is doing in their home.
Take Back Who God Says You Are!
Your identity and relationships are everything when it comes to living a full life on this planet. But what happens when your lens in those areas becomes distorted or tainted? Discover in this book how the subtle mindset of rejection seeks to alter your thoughts and train you to carry a tainted lens on life. You will discover that rejection is not just something that happens to you, it is a toxic stronghold, set up to prevent you from walking in the love of God and knowing who you are.
Throughout this book, you will learn to see how this root system of rejection seeks to get itself into every facet of relationships. You will understand how to:
– Confront unresolved brokenness and the masks that we wear in relationships. – End the slave life of performance, perfectionism and people pleasing. – Walk free from constant busyness and hyper-driven living. – Let go of relationship burdens you should not be carrying. – Address the toxic relationships around you. – Break addictive habits and addict living. – Love and accept yourself right where you are. – End the twisted communication that goes in in relationships. – Take the limits off where you are stuck in breaking free. – Practical steps on walking free from rejection. – Develop a healthy lens of God, yourself and your relationships. – Get out of isolation, get back out there and live an authentic life!
For More Information, visit www.MarkDeJesus.com Ask Me A Question If you have a question, comment, thought or concern, you can share those with me by clicking below or leave your comments (bottom of this post) and dialogue with others as they work towards their own freedom and development.
Whether it’s a career, relationships, church, or just life in general, how do we know when we are in transition? How do we identify and embrace when a season is coming to an end? What does the process look like, and how can I be successful in navigating change?
In this podcast episode, I want to share with you The Four Stages of a Successful Transition.
Over the course of my own life, I can identify several times I’ve experienced significant transition. As I reflect, I clearly see there were four specific stages through which I had to navigate completely before I was able to arrive at the next level of my life.
4 Stages of a Successful Transition: 1. Discontent: …..What I’m presently doing is no longer satisfying. There’s something greater God has called me to.
2. Disconnect: …..I have to let go of/disconnect from anything from my past that is hindering me from pursuing what lies ahead of me.
3. Discovery: …..What is most important? Am I advancing the cause of God in my life?
4. Deployment: …..Engaging in/actually doing what I’ve now discovered as my new avenue. This is a total step of faith!
Closing Thoughts: Are you in a transition or season of change right now? What stage do you feel you’re in?
God has invited you on a journey and the entire process has multiple stages. Walk it out – – your next level is awaiting you!
Effective communication is vital to your success! I want to challenge you to think in terms of growing your impact, and communicating your passions. In today’s podcast episode, I’ll give you five keys for becoming an incredible communicator, and I’ll also share with you some exciting information revealed in in a talk with my friend, Joy Groblebe.
Whatever your message, whatever your passion, know this: your ability to communicate and connect with those you are called to serve, directly impacts your success and effectiveness in life.
5 Keys for Becoming an Incredible Communicator: 1. Identify your core message.
- What are your passions? Expertise?
- What events have you experienced in life? Hear my story here.
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What are your successes?
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Grow your knowledge and your expertise.
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Books/Articles
- Conferences/Seminars
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Online courses
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Determine your delivery methods.
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Speaking
- Writing: books, blogs, editorials
- Podcasting
- Coaching
- Seminars
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Sales presentations
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Invest in Training and Competencies.
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Conferences
- Training programs
- Online courses
- Toastmasters
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Personal coaching
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Believe in your value.
Your presentation can change someone’s life!
Joy Groblebe & SCORRE:
There are only a few seats left for the upcoming conference, scheduled May 4-7 in Orlando, FL.
If you’ve ever wanted to identify your message, develop your confidence as a communicator, and engage your calling by getting your message out to the world, you MUST attend this training!
Albert Einstein once said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Our thinking, our beliefs, our ways of processing, have all contributed to our current circumstances. In order to change this, or to make any progress, we must utilize Next Level Thinking.
Everyone wants “more” or “to get ahead”, but few go all in and identify what must change in order to advance. On today’s podcast, we’ll explore Next Level Thinking, and how to make it a regular part of your life.
Talking Points: * Life is lived on levels and experienced in stages. * Transition always requires movement on our part. * The question is not, “is there another level for me?” The question is, “am I willing to make the necessary growth adjustments that will qualify me for that level?” * To advance to the next level, our thinking must change. * If we do not grow beyond the level of our previous season, we will revert back to the results and limitations of that season. * The new level requires new leadership mindset. * You’ve not begun to imagine the greatness that awaits you just over on the other side. * Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 43:18-19; Isaiah 48:3-11 * The Father is inviting you to your next level!
It is my pleasure to introduce you to Jevonnah Ellison, lovingly known by many as Lady J. Jevonnah and I had the privilege of meeting in 2014 through our mutual friend and mentor, Dan Miller. The connection was immediate, and it was apparent we shared a similar passion in seeing people discover and become who God created them to be. Jevonnah is an author, speaker, and purpose coach, and her story is one many can relate to.
On today’s program, she shares her journey From Rejection to Direction.
Jevonnah Ellison’s Bio:
Jevonnah is an Executive Leadership Coach & Leading Purpose Strategist, and absolutely loves her job! She equips high potential women & visionary men with confidence and clarity so they can live out their authentic purpose and experience incredible success as entrepreneurs.
She is also the President & Founder of Professional Women of Integrity, a movement of over 4,000 talented, faith-filled business women who are elevating their influence and impact in the marketplace while keeping God first.
As an Author, Speaker and Entrepreneur, God has blessed Jevonnah to help thousands of high potential people understand their most unique and powerful talents so they can make a larger impact, amplify their strengths, thrive financially, and discover who they were made to be and do in the world.
For more information about Jevonnah’s work, please visit her website at:
Jevonnah.com
There are promises, principles, provisions, and formulas – yes, formulas – throughout the Bible. There are prescriptions that IF you will follow them, THEN they will produce specific results! What we must know, is that most of what we want in life can be realized by simply discovering the formula or keys associated with that desire.
Join me today as we talk about mastering the If/Then Principle!
Promises, Provisions & Formulas: 1. Length of days (years of life), and peace (Pr. 3:1,2) ……….IF you keep his commands in your heart, THEN you will have peace.
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Find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man (Pr. 3:4,5) ……….IF you are kind/honest, THEN you will find favor.
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He will make your paths straight (Pr. 3:5,6) ……….IF you trust Him, acknowledge him, THEN He will make your paths straight.
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Healing and refreshment (Pr. 3:7,8) ……….IF you serve humbly and fear the Lord, THEN healing and refreshment will come.
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Accounts full and an overflow of new and fresh wine (Pr. 3:9,10) ………IF you honor the Lord with your wealth and first fruits, THEN abundance will come.
Next Steps: 1. Take THREE chapters from the WISDOM book ……….Proverbs 3 ……….Proverbs 4 ……….Proverbs 5
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Read each verse and listen for: ……….Provisions ……….Promises ……….Conditions
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Write down: ……….the corresponding reward or blessings ……….identify the instruction or formula given that insures the realization of the promise
Helpful Links For Becoming Debt-Free: * Dave Ramsey * Dani Johnson
My Encouragement to You: * IF you will, THEN it will happen for you!
It is an honor for me to have my dear friend and colleague, Dan Miller back on the program. Today, Dan I are talking about the recent release of his new book, (the 10th Anniversary Revised Edition) of 48 Days To The Work You Love. Over the last 10 years, millions have been exposed to and changed by the truths in this great book. Now, Dan has added over 60% new and updated content that will transform the way you look at your life, your calling, and your work. This is an episode you will NOT want to miss.
About Dan I met Dan originally in Atlanta in May of 2012. Since that time, I have been reading his books and blogs, listening to his podcast, and participating in his 48Days Community on a regular basis. For the last 12 months, I have been a part of wonderful MASTERMIND group that Dan leads. He is one of the most genuine people I know, and I have come to respect him a great deal. The 48Days.com mission is to foster the process of imagining, dreaming and introspection, to help people find their calling and true path, and to translate that into meaningful, purposeful and profitable daily work…all within 48 Days!
Dan Miller, President of 48 Days LLC, specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes that meaningful work blends our natural skills and abilities, our unique personality traits and our dreams and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.
Dan is the author of the widely acclaimed 48 Days To The Work You Love, No More Dreaded Mondays and Wisdom Meets Passion.. He writes regularly for many popular magazines and web portals, including CBN.com, Crosswalk.com, In Touch, AARP and Success magazines and the Zig Ziglar newsletter. He has been a guest on CBS’ The Early Show, MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Mathews, 700 Club’s Living The Life and Fox Business News with Dave Ramsey Show…to hit some highlights. He hosts a weekly podcast that is consistently ranked #1 under Careers on iTunes. Dan is also a frequent speaker and guest on popular radio programs like Moody Broadcasting, Crown Financial, Janet Parshall’s America, American Family Radio, and Prime Time Chicago. He also has an online community with over 14,000 “eaglepreneurs”!
Over 130,000 people have subscribed to his weekly newsletter, his 48 Days Podcast consistently ranks in the top 3 under Careers on iTunes, and the 48Days.net business community is viewed as an example around the world for those seeking to find – or create – work they love. Committed to personal priorities, Dan and his wife Joanne are approaching their 45th anniversary and have three world-changing children and 12 amazing grandchildren. What does it mean to be fully alive in your work? Many of us are not yet doing what God put us here to do. Dan looks at the changing work models and outlines a plan for integrating your dreams and your passions into your daily activities. If you’ve ever buried your dreams in an attempt to be “practical” or “realistic,” Dan will show you how embracing those very dreams is the most practical way to enjoy life and achieve the success you’re looking for.
Comment and Engage With Us If you’d like to comment in this episode, please go to BrianHolmes.com/075, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you—comment, question, or whatever.
As most people find themselves stuck in the rut of life, with no real clarity or purpose, our culture has accepted settling for the mundane and mediocre. In today’s podcast, I’m going to discuss how to find your lane in life, and not only live, but thrive in it!
Setting the Path for Strategic Living: 1. God has plans (Jeremiah 29:11) 2. His plans are for your success (John 10:10) 3. Life is a choice (Deuteronomy 30:14-19)
Key Components for Finding Your Lane and Living It: 1. Purpose …..Who, What, Where, Why?
2. Values …..What is important? What inspires me?
3. Vision …..Where am I going?
4. Roles …..Am I fulfilled, or am I filling time?
5. Mission …..Mission is the activity of purpose.
Finding Your Lane & Building a Strategic Life: * Self Discovery (Purpose, Values) * Visioning (Vision, Roles, Mission) * Strategic Planning (The “how”) * Personal Preparation (Acquiring resources, skills, knowledge) * Implementation (Start. Do. Accomplish. Fulfill.) * Strategic Living (Enjoying the Life God Intended)
My Encouragement to You: * Don’t settle for average or ordinary. * Don’t settle for a mediocre life. * Find your lane! * Hire a life coach. * Know that God created you for significance.
Ray is the host of The Ray Edwards Show, a top rated podcast about living in Prosperity on Purpose, and he provides such rich content on life, leadership, business, marketing, and relating with God. He is probably best known as a Direct Response Copywriter, Product Launch Manager, Internet Marketing Strategist and conference speaker. I have been following Ray and his work for over 18 months, and have come to not only respect him as a business leader, but truly honor him as a man of God. Ray is a tremendous thought leader, and is making a significant impact in both the sacred and secular space. In this episode, Ray and I discuss Seasons of Change.
Ray Edwards’ Bio:
Ray is probably best known as a Direct Response Copywriter, Product Launch Manager, Internet Marketing Strategist and conference speaker. Campaigns he’s written and/or directed have resulted in an estimated $100 million in sales.
He’s had the good fortune to working with (and learning from) some stellar clients, including New York Times Best-selling authors Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul), Joel Comm (author of Twitter Power and The Adsense Code), Raymond Aaron (author of Double Your Income Doing What You Love) as well as Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Jeff Walker, and many others.
Ray speaks frequently at seminars on copywriting, promotions and marketing, for professionals in those fields.
For more information about Ray’s work, please visit his website at
www.RayEdwards.com
Comment and Engage With Us If you’d like to comment in this episode, please go to BrianHolmes.com/073, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you—comment, question, or whatever.
Today, I’m sharing 10 reasons everyone should become a reader. After all, “readers are leaders, and leaders are readers!” Think you don’t have time to read? Do you struggle to find any benefit in reading? Listen to today’s podcast and let me show you how reading can transform your life.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” ~ George R. R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons
10 Reasons: 1. Readers grow
……a. Spiritually ……b. Mentally ……c. In influence ……d. Emotionally
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Reading produces confidence.
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Reading feeds the mind & soul.
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Reading equips you with the goods you need to serve someone else.
……a. Knowledge ……b. Wisdom ……c. Ideas ……d. Solutions
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Readers have a distinct advantage over non-readers.
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Readers have more influence, because they have more answers.
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Reading expands your horizons.
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Reading increases your value in relationships.
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Reading increases your lifespan.
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Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers.
Tips: 1. Set a specific time each day as your reading time. 2. Treat it as an appointment. 3. Listen to books on audio. ……a. Audible.com ……b. Blinkest (audio book summaries) 4. ReadToLead Podcast
Question: What if you read ONE book per week in your chosen field or area of interest? Would that make a difference? (Sales, Marketing, People, etc.)
Comment and Engage With Us If you’d like to comment in this episode, please go to BrianHolmes.com/072, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you—comment, question, or whatever.
I see great value in reflecting on a previous season, and identifying the major lessons one has learned, or the landmarks one has crossed. Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Today, I want to look back on last year and share with you 5 Pivotal Lessons I Learned in 2014.
5 Lessons & Landmarks: 1. Walking with the Father is a daily CHOICE. Learning to Hear and Follow the Father’s Voice
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The importance of reading 7 Ways You Can Become A Lifetime Learner
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Being understood is overrated
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Not all relationships will follow you to the next level
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New opportunities show up when I become CLEAR on who I am, and who I am not
Action Steps: 1. Continue to learn how to LIVE in His love, and walk by His leadership. CHOOSE.
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Purpose TODAY to become a lifestyle learner. a. Set reading goals b. Create a book list c. What are leaders reading?
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Decide that you will NOT perform to others’ expectations, nor will you seek to be understood.
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Which relationships need to be: a. Re-defined? b. Established with new boundaries? c. Eliminated?
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Get clarity on WHO you are, and WHAT you want. a. Get a coach b. Work with a mentor c. Take a course
Question: As you reflect on 2014, what lessons and landmarks were important in your life?
Comment and Engage With Us If you’d like to comment in this episode, please go to BrianHolmes.com/071, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you—comment, question, or whatever.
It is an honor for me to introduce to you Wayne Jacobsen. Wayne travels the world helping people sort out what Jesus really taught, helping them find a freedom from performance-based religion to embrace a relationship with God deeply rooted in the Father’s affection. A former pastor, Wayne now hosts Lifestream.org, which provides resources for spiritual growth and a podcast at TheGodJourney.com to encourage people thinking outside the box of organized religion. As a writer his most popular titles include He Loves Me: Learning to Live in the Father’s Affection, So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore, Finding Church, In Season, and A Man Like No Other. He was also co-writer and publisher of The Shack, which sold over twenty million copies worldwide. Two of his books are now being adapted into movies for theatrical release. His books, podcasts, and international travel have inspired countless people to a more vibrant faith and a greater understanding of living in the church Jesus is building in the world.
In this episode, Wayne and I are talking about the transformative power of coming into a personal revelation that ‘God Loves You’! This conversation will enlighten you, and bring you into an awareness that God is less interested in what you can DO for Him, and more interested in you being in relationship WITH Him.
For more information about Wayne, please visit his website at:
LifeStream.org
Comment and Engage With Us If you’d like to comment in this episode, please go to BrianHolmes.com/070, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you—comment, question, or whatever.
We Have “Them and Us” Syndrome One of the greatest travesties I’ve witnessed in my lifetime is intentional separation between the church and the marketplace. This mindset has crippled our ability to bring heaven on earth, and has paralyzed us in becoming relevant change agents in the culture.
On today’s program, I want to share with you the importance of Convergence: When Ministry Meets the Marketplace.
Biblical Principle: Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
7 Mountains of Cultural Influence * Religion * Family * Government * Education * Arts/Entertainment * Communication/Media * Business/Finance
God’s (real) Church Taking Their Place In: * The classroom * The workplace * The sports arenas * The banking world * The halls of government * Hollywood and Broadway * The music industry * TV networks with character * Podcasts/blogs
Review * Movie: Holy Ghost * First Steps To Success – Dani Johnson
A NEW DAY IS DAWNING!
A new generation of KINGDOM leadership is coming up!
Let’s BE church.
We behave and act out of habit As we embark on another year, one of the most important things we can do is evaluate our habits. Habits, when formed, become second nature DRIVERS for our lives. These habits produce results; so when the results you are presently experiencing in you life don’t match up to what you want or know you are capable of, you must, as RAFIKI said … LOOK CLOSER!
ON today’s program, I want to share with you ‘The Power of Habits, Rituals, and Routines‘
Biblical Principle: James 4:17
17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
What we repeatedly do
“We are what we repeatedly DO. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a HABIT”. ~ Aristotle
Here’s 5 Steps I would Recommend: 1. Answer the question … “What Do I Want?”
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Examine your beliefs and habits about that area. What are you currently doing repeatedly?
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Identify: What new beliefs and/or habits can you develop and live that WILL move the needle?
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Commit: Make a commitment to yourself to DO this action every day/week, etc for 90 days. Block time
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Establish Rituals and Routines
WHAT ABOUT YOU? What new habits will you form TODAY that will change your future?
Ask Me A Question If you have a question, comment, though or concern, you can share those with me by clicking here or leave your comments (bottom of this post) and dialogue with others as they work towards their own freedom and development.
Announcements 1. New Beginnings – February 27th-28th, 2015
- 2014 Reconcile the Past
- Awaken your dreams
- Develop a solid plan and strategy
- Be activated to create the life God designed you to live
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BrianHolmes.com/newbeginnings
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New website: January 31st – Features, tools, learning
3 . Next week: 12 Lessons I learned In 2014
- Monday Mastery – New Series on Personal Responsibility
Nothing Changes Until Something Changes!
Another year has come and gone, and with all of our ideas, plans and even dreams, WE have to change if our results are going to be different than 2014. So many people can imagine themselves out of debt, healthy and at an ideal weight, making more money, owning THAT house or vehicle, or starting that business, YET, so many struggle to make the necessary internal changes that bring about lasting and positive results.
The issue is not the WHAT, and sometimes it is not even the WHY. The real issue is that WHAT WILL YOU DO? The real issue is are we willing to make necessary changes, adjustments, re-arranging our priorities, applying discipline, structure, coaching, counsel? Are we willing to SHIFT our ways, so that we can SEE the change we desire? Someone once said, we have to BE the change we desire to see.
In this episode, I want to challenge you with this idea: It’s Another New Year ~ What Will You Do Different?
Real resolution REQUIRES corresponding and subsequent ACTION that causes the desired change to occur.
Here is a PROCESS I want to suggest that will help you gain clarity on what it is you want, and what steps you need to take to achieve the results you want in life.
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Pray … Ask your Father to open your eyes so you can SEE what He desires for you
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What do you want to look different ONE YEAR from now?
WRITE IT DOWN.
- Closer relationship with God
- Healed heart
- Better marriage
- Relationships with your children
- New job
- More money
- Debts paid off
- Health – ideal weight?
- New relationships
- Launch business
- Write book
- New home
- Your investments funded
- Married – you have to go where the prospects are!
- What dreams have you shelved
- You want to become a pilot?
- You want to get that degree?
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Somewhere you want to travel
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Describe it … See it
- Be extremely detailed
- Assign emotions to this vision/goal
- What will it be like when …?
- What will it look like?
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What will I feel?
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Ask yourself the following questions for EACH
- Do I really want this? Is it really important?
- Is it aligned with my purpose and God’s plans for my life?
- If yes, by what date do I commit to reaching this mark?
- Can I reach this goal doing what I am presently doing?
- Can I achieve this desire with my current resources, education, or relationships?
- Does my present environment help me or hurt me in aspiring to these results?
- What do I need to change?
- What do I need to do?
- What accountability or structure do I need to move towards this vision?
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What can I do TODAY to begin?
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Take Action TODAY
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Identify ONE or TWO changes, steps you ca take immediately and START
Review:
- Pray
- What Do You Want?
- See it and Describe it
- Ask Questions
- Take Action NOW
2015 can (and should) be your BEST YEAR EVER. I encourage you to … Decide, resolve, re-focus, and take action! Make THIS the day you began the process of transformation and activation for your future. Make this the year that you BECOME all God has created you to be
QUESTION:
Another New Year ~ What Will You Do Different?
Comment and Engage With Us If you’d like to comment in this episode, please go to BrianHolmes.com/066, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you—comment, question, or whatever.
FORGET THE PAST, and look to tomorrow Another year has come to an end, and we ALL are thinking about the future and what it might hold. Some of us are lamenting over what ‘could have been’;or goals you did not hit; or struggles you may have experienced this year. No matter where you are today, or where you hoped you would have been at this date in time, there is a future that God has planned for you You may have to make some adjustments; you may need to re-focus or even renew your commitments, but in any case, the future is bright.
ON today’s program, I want to share with you ‘10 Things You Can Do to Finish Strong, and Focus Forward‘
Let’s review 1. Celebrate this year’s moments 2. Take responsibility for yourself (Fess it and fix it) 3. Forgive (others and yourself) – ‘Let It Go’ 4. Be ruthless with unbelief and negativity 5. Be intentional about being thankful (make a list) 6. Simplify and de-clutter 7. Set no more than 5 major goals for the new year 8. Develop New Habits and Rituals 9. Commit to personal growth 10. Open your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit’s leadership
Experience what it is God wants you to experience. I truly believe it’s success on every level in your life – health, wealth, relationships… This is a common time of year for most people to be thinking about “New Year’s Resolutions”. I believe “commitment” is a better word than “resolution“. Resolution has become overused and lost it’s meaning. So this year I want you to make a new “commitment” to the things God has laid on your heart. ON today’s program, I want to share with you ‘Focusing In On The Desires of Your Heart‘
Scriptural Principle: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
The Truth is… We’re not waiting on God to show up and perform some miracle to make those things happen – what’s keeping those things from happening is us. Are we aligning our thoughts and actions with what “heaven” has said is true about us.
Embrace the reality of what God has said about us. Move in the direction of what God has in store for us.
Today I’m going to share with you a series of teachings I recorded recently I believe will help you see that God WANTS us to pursue the desires of our hearts. Ask Me A Question If you have a question, comment, though or concern, you can share those with me by clicking here or leave your comments (bottom of this post) and dialogue with others as they work towards their own freedom and development.
Announcement Exciting things coming up here at BrianHolmes.com:
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Attending Dani Johnson’s ‘First Steps To Success’ event in Austin, TX in January 2. New Beginnings – February 28th, 2014
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Reconcile the Past
- Awaken your dreams
- Develop a solid plan and strategy
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Be activated to create the life God designed you to live
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New Book
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Healing The Broken Soul
- March 2015
4 . New Webinars in 2015 5. Group Coaching Program
Are you ready for the new year? Last week, we talked about transition. We are now approaching a brand new YEAR, and how you leave one place is how you enter another.
ON today’s program, I want us to look at 15 Questions that will focus you mind and heart on entering the new season with confidence and intentionality
Click HERE to get your free powerful worksheet to help prepare you for your best year yet!
15 Questions What are your answers to the 15 questions?
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Are you ready to work through the questions yourself? You can HERE
What will you do with change when it comes to you? You see, TRANSITION is something we will all experience in life. It is that place between the way things used to be and the way they are becoming. It is the blank page between two chapters in a book. It is unchartered territory. It’s not where you have been, and it is not the full expression of where you are going. It is the place called BETWEEN.
ON today’s program, I want to share with you ‘7 Keys for Navigating Life Transition‘
Scriptural Principle: Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
What is Transition?
The following excerpt was taken from an article www.Therarive.com
Transitions typically mark an ending followed by a time of self-reflection, which hopefully, leads to a new beginning or outlook on life. Every life transition asks us to let go of a past way of thinking or doing. By doing so, we are given the opportunity to replace the old way of being with something new. During the transitional period however, we usually feel uncomfortable, almost disconnected with our environment and even ourselves.
Dealing With Transition 1. Learn to recognize when something’s season has come to an end
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Embrace Change
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Let Go of the Past
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Identify The Opportunities
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Concentrate on Growth Areas
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Commit To Your Future
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Trust In The Lord … He makes all things NEW!
WHAT ABOUT YOU? So many people I know are experiencing some level of transition right now. Are you?
Last week we talked about the power of your words What you say is what you GET. It is imperative that we become aware of, and alter what we say, as it directly impacts our outcomes.
On today’s program, I want to share with you a process by which you can radically alter your life by learning the art of confession and affirmation.
Premises from the Word: 1) God has a pre-determined plan and vision for your life – Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
2) He has complete and accurate knowledge of the plans He has for you – Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
3) How I SEE myself, and what I believe to be true determines whether or not I realize God’s plans and agenda in my life – Proverbs 23:7
“As a man thinks within himself, so is he …”
4) Whatever God has SPOKEN concerning my life is His Word; His Word cannot lie; it is true, and it will accomplish whatever He had in His mind when we said (sent it) – Isaiah 55:8-11
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
5) THINGS are erected in our mind’s eye that challenge and compete with what God knows – II Corinthians 10:3-8
“3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [** Mindsets]
4 Casting down imaginations, [images, pictures, ideas, beliefs] and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
6) Not all truth is equal; I must know THE truth as God sees it – John 8:31-32
“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Three ‘Applications’ for Belief Transformation: * Confessing The Word Of God – When you confess the Word of God you are saying the same thing that God says. Confessing is also “declaring to be true or real.” The conditions may not match the confession at first, but because the word of God has built a divine image in your heart then you know the confession is truth and it will eventually take the place of the condition. * Affirmations – When making an affirmation you are not letting anything cast it out or deny it. Also, you must believe with your heart. In order to do this you must feed your heart with the TRUTH until it believes it. * Decrees – When you get to the level of decreeing you can speak 6 God’s Word on a situation and walk away from it because you know God’s Word will change it.
Remember Abraham? He confessed (or affirmed) the truth as God had spoken He affirmed, and affirmed, and affirmed until it became his unwavering, personal belief. He spoke of the FUTURE in the PRESENT TENSE. He literally called into the present what was not present, on the basis of what God said his future would be. Time responded to Abraham’s agreement with God’s Word.
Your steps 1. Identify major areas of your life
- Relationships
- Marriage
- Financial
- Health/Wellness
- Emotional Well being
- Spiritual
- Career/Business
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Other
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For this exercise, choose ONE you desire to change
- What is the CURRENT REALITY or PRESENT STATE in that area?
- What is the POTENTIAL LOSS
- What is the WHY?
- Write a statement that identifies the TRUTH as God sees it
Examples Personal I am a worthy and accepted person; appreciated and loved by those that know me, and whose lives I touch
Marriage I possess the ability and the heart to love my wife with my entire being, and I successfully make her feel as if she is the most important part of my life.
Vocation I am extremely qualified and competent as I lead thousands of people all over the world; and I feel a sense of pride and confidence, knowing that I have the power to positively affect the lives of generations
What you say is what you GET I really believe this to be true. Our thoughts lead to beliefs; out of our beliefs we talk, both internally to ourselves, and outwardly to others; and what we say has tremendous creative power. Have you ever intentionally turned up the volume and raised your awareness of what comes out of your mouth? You might be shocked if you walked around with a recorder all day.
What are you creating with your own words? Life, poverty, success, failure, good relationships, bad ones?
On today’s program, I want to share with you ‘How To Change Your Life by Changing Your Words’
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Genesis 1
Then God SAID … let there BE …
James 3:5-6, 9-10
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
It has to do with BELIEFS In 2007, I traveled to Seattle, WA to attend a powerful training which was being offered by ‘The Pacific Institute.’ Lou Tice, an amazing entrepreneur, businessman, and trainer had discovered years ago that most of the challenges we face have to do with our BELIEFS, and maybe more importantly, the WORDS we speak.
Whether the conversation is going on inside our mind, or out loud where everyone can hear it, OUR WORD carry tremendous power, and in fact CREATE exactly what we say. We can speak into existence what our heart believes to be true, good or bad: Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
It starts with BELIEF We have to challenged limiting and paralyzing beliefs, and align ourselves with the TRUTH as God sees it.
Bridle the Tongue We have to CATCH ourselves saying limiting and destructive things.
The Way Forward 1. Listen 2. Call out – (identify) the WORDS that are life-taking 3. Repent 4. Receive Truth – What does God know to be true? 5. Replace – Create statements of confession/affirmation that, over time, will take command of your creative power
A few questions Are you overweight? Are you miserable in your current job/career situation? Do you keep repeating the same patterns in life? Do you want to make more money? Do you feel you have more to offer this world? Are you tired of where you are living? Are you yearning for new, life giving relationships?
Are you tired of the SAME OLD, SAME OLD? Sounds like you make be ready for some CHANGE!!!
On today’s program, I want to share with you ‘7 Truths You Must Face If You Want To Make A Change’
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 43:18-19
18 “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. 19 “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is an appointed time for everything …
An amazing insight from Steve Jobs A few questions Are you overweight? Are you miserable in your current job/career situation? Do you keep repeating the same patterns in life? Do you want to make more money? Do you feel you have more to offer this world? Are you tired of where you are living? Are you yearning for new, life giving relationships?
Are you tired of the SAME OLD, SAME OLD? Sounds like you make be ready for some CHANGE!!!
On today’s program, I want to share with you ‘7 Truths You Must Face If You Want To Make A Change’
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 43:18-19
18 “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. 19 “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is an appointed time for everything …
An amazing insight from Steve Jobs How many people do we know that never stop to consider this, much less have the courage to address the necessary change that brings about fulfillment and results. Why are we willing to continue at the expense of what COULD BE?
Truths You Must Face If You Want to Make a Change 1. Your present circumstance is a reflection of past choices 2. You cannot change what you are not willing to acknowledge (Dr. Phil) 3. It starts with the man in the mirror … no one else is responsible for YOU 4. Change Your Mind, Change Your World 5. When You Can’t Change Your Environment, sometimes you have to create or find a new one 6. To resist change is to forfeit your future 7. Nothing Changes Until Something Changes
WHAT ABOUT YOU? What are you READY to see changed in your life? What are you willing to change about YOU so that you can see the change you want to see? Are you blaming others for what only YOU can change?
One of my most desired things is to live my life ABOVE AVERAGE I believe with every fiber of my being that I am born to be great, and to be great only requires that I choose not to be average and ordinary. It is EASY to go with the flow. It is comfortable to compare ourselves against everyone else, making sure that we ‘MEASURE UP’ to what the world expects of us. It requires no real effort to maintain the status quo, or to fit in with those who follow the mundane masses into the deep doldrums of a more meaningless existence.
But, what if I am created for MORE? What if you and I are destined to be in that small minority of people who RISE ABOVE the crowd just enough to lead, to influence, to affect change? What will it take? How do we do that?
ON today’s program, I want to share with you ‘7 Things That Will Separate You From The Crowd’
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Deuteronomy 28 (NASB)
28 “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
7 Things That Will Separate You From The Crowd: 1. Know who you are * You are a child of God … His son * You are born for greatness, you have an assignment * You are accepted and approved of by Him; you need no one else’s approval * You do not have to BE like anyone, perform for anyone, or compromise for any reason * Be comfortable in your own skin
- Lead From Your Lane
- What is your personality style? (How are you wired?)
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your talents, skills and abilities?
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Don’t pursue positions or titles, rather, pursue purpose and passions embedded in your DNA by God Himself
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Serve others first
- My life is not my own
- Whatever I have, I have to give away
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Whatever talents and abilities, I possess them to solve some problem for someone
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Be an encourager
- There is so much CRAP and noise out there today
- One way to stand out is to be a person who people look FORWARD to seeing or hearing from
- Be that person who brings positivity, grace, smiles, joy to the environment
- Be a person whose attitude exudes gratefulness, thankfulness, respect, honor, love, hope
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Speak encouraging words; speak life; speak peace
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Listen more than you talk
- Everyone has an opinion about everything
- Sometimes, we actually have good advice we can give others
- What most people long for is someone who will listen FROM THE HEART
- What most people want is someone who will do life with them in a way that we don’t just express our sympathy, but rather, we crawl down in the trenches with someone and stay there until they come through
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This is real relationship!
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Be teachable
- You don’t have to impress people with how much you know
- In fact, the older I get, the more I realize just how much I DON’T know
- Be a learner
- Observe, listen, read, learn
- Allow others to help you to see things you don’t see Be willing to take correction and accountability
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If you are the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room!
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Be real
- No masks
- No pretense
- No hiding behind titles and positions
- Honest
- Truly humble and authentically confident
- Transparent and open
- What You See Is What You get
WHAT ABOUT YOU? What are you presently focused on that will make you a person who stands out from the crowd? Will you continue to blend in, go along to get along, or will you rise above the rest and be the one others look to?
I am often asked, how did the Ties That Bind come to be? Others want to know my personal story; what makes me an authority on the process of healing I so often talk about. Well, like many others, I have a story to tell It’s my story… a true story Before this story began; before I needed healing; before I came to a crisis place in my own life; before God met me in the most unlikely place in 2000, HE had already determined that my DESTINY would be uniquely shaped by my experience and my life’s testimony.
Today on this podcast, I want to share with you a recent opportunity I had to share my story. Not only will you hear about my life, but you will hear how God revealed to us the truths and the life of God we found in ‘The Ties That Bind’
Let’s go now to ‘The Ties That Bind Story…My Journey to Healing’
Passionate Leadership That Produces Results I am excited today to share with you some thoughts on Becoming A Passionate Leader. You may or may not fancy yourself a ‘leader’, but the truth is, everyone of us are created by God to LEAD our generation in some way or form. We talk often on this program about BECOMING or BEING. We also refer to DEVELOPING LEADERS. What do we mean by this? I will tell you. I believe that every man and woman born to time has been placed in the earth to govern, to rule, to INFLUENCE, and to affect change. The Bible tells us that we are SALT and LIGHT. John Maxwell says … “Leaders Lead”. Today, I want to challenge you to pursue becoming a PASSIONATE LEADER; one who knows who they are, and is functioning from a place of grace and strength; one that gets results in everything you put your heart and hands to.
ON today’s program, I want to share with you ‘Passionate Leadership That Produces Results’
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Psalm 20:4
May He give You the desires of your heart, and make all your plans succeed..
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart..
Proverbs 13:12
Hope (passion) deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is the tree of life.
4 Questions To Help You Identify Your Passions: 1. What are YOU passionate about? 2. What desires are you seeking to fulfill? 3. How do your PASSIONS and DESIRES intersect the leadership role God has created you to fulfill 4. Are you living with PASSION and PURPOSE, or are you just getting by?
WHAT ABOUT YOU? How did you answer these questions?
Can You Hear Me Now? – 10 Ways That God Speaks To Us For several weeks I have been sharing on our Monday Mastery about Relating With God as Father. In our last episode, I shared with you on How To Hear and Follow His Voice. Why is this so important? Why is this such a focus of mine right now? How does this affect my life, business, marriage, family? These principles are currently in the process of changing HOW I do life I am making it my business not only to INCLUDE Him in my day to day life, but to make Him the managing partner in it! How do we do this?
ON today’s program, I want to share with you ‘10 Ways That God Speaks to Us, and How It Can Make All The Difference in Your Life’
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Psalm 81:13-14
13 “Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! 14 “I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries.
Proverbs 22:16-18
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
10 Ways God Speaks To Us: 1. His Word (The Bible) 2. In Prayer and Meditation 3. Through Nature / Creation 4. Through Relationships (other people) 5. Through Godly Counsel and Wisdom 6. Through those in Spiritual Authority/Coverings 7. Through Events and Circumstances 8. Through Preaching, Exhortation, and Prophetic Expression 9. Through Music 10. Through our Conscience (the still small voice)
WHAT ABOUT YOU? How has God been speaking to you? Are you listening?
Are you hearing voices? Well there’s one voice you need to be listening for… We find ourselves in a season right now where God is inviting us to LEARN what it means to be LED by the Spirit; to follow hard after Him; to trust His leadership; and to HEAR His voice. One of the challenges we face as 21st century Christian’s is that somewhere along the way, our reliance factor changed over from relying on HIM, and we have become more self-reliant. The truth is that APART from Him we can do nothing. So, more than ever before, it is imperative that we re-up our commitment and dedication to pursuing Him, learn how to hear His voice, and follow His leadership
On todays program, I want to share with you 7 KEYS that will move you forward in mastering the Art of Hearing God’s Voice and being led by Him.
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Jeremiah 7:23-25
23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them.
Psalm 81:13-14
13 “Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! 14 “I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES:
Abraham Take now your son … Moses Go back to your homeland, and tell Pharaoh … David When leadership was lacking, David said, I will … Jonah God called and Jonah ran; had to get his attention Jeremiah God specified his calling and place, and Jeremiah argued
7 KEYS TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING: 1. God is always speaking 2. I must place VALUE on His Words and on hearing His voice 3. It takes TIME to listen 4. To hear His voice, I must eliminate all distractions and focus on hearing (Incline my ear) 5. I must listen with my heart 6. I must receive His love, His correction, and His instruction. Submitting to His Word and heart is in my best interest 7. I must listen with a willingness and intent to obey
Today’s episode is a little more challenging than usual… are you ready? God has put dreams into your heart He wants you to achieve. He has brought relationships into your life for your growth and encouragement to help you achieve those dreams. BUT if you don’t take action you can miss all that God has in store for you.
Are you someone who says “yes” to lots of things but has trouble following through? Are you going back and forth on making an important decision in life – and because of fear and doubt you refuse to take action? If so than you need to hear the loving challenge from God Himself – Go All In! That’s right. God is looking to bless those who will not only say “yes” but will take action because of that “yes” Today we are talking about commitment and what it means to say “yes” to all God has in store for you.
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Matthew 5:33-37
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ 34 But I say to you, make nooath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyondthese is of evil.
New International Version (©1984) Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
New Living Translation (©2007) Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
Young’s Literal Translation but let your word be, Yes, Yes, No, No, and that which is more than these is of the evil.
James 5:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES: Abraham Take now your son … Moses Go back to your homeland, and tell Pharaoh … David When leadership was lacking, David said, I will … Jonah God called and Jonah ran; had to get his attention Jeremiah God specified his calling and place, and Jeremiah argued
HISTORICAL EXAMPLES: William Wilberforce
William Wallace
GREAT QUOTES ON COMMITMENT:
“There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in-between.” Pat Riley
“If you want to take your mission in life to the next level, if you’re stuck and you don’t know how to rise, don’t look outside yourself. Look inside. Don’t let your fears keep you mired in the crowd. Abolish your fears and raise your commitment level to the point of no return, and I guarantee you that the Champion Within will burst forth to propel you toward victory.” Bruce Jenner
“Commitment unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the “right stuff” to turn our dreams into reality.” James Womack
“Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Vince Lombardi
“I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life’s greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret.” Anthony Robbins
It’s Our 1 Year Anniversary! Thank you for helping us make it possible!
I am so excited to bring you this 52nd episode of the Strategic Living Podcast. It is a rare occasion that I have a guest in studio with me, but today, I am please to bring you an interview (really a celebration and conversation) with my friend and colleague, Cliff Ravenscraft. Cliff and I met in early 2012, and have developed a strong and meaningful relationship, one that I am immensely grateful to have in my life. As you will learn, Cliff is known all over the world as The Podcast Answerman. He is, in fact, responsible for helping me prepare and launch the Strategic Living Podcast. His story, his big heart, and his incredible generosity have touched the lives of countless thousands. It is an honor to call him friend, and a real pleasure to welcome him to this, our 1 Year Anniversary Special!
Cliff’s Bio:
Cliff Ravenscraft is the founder of The Podcast Mastermind and gspn.tv (Generally Speaking Production Network). Together with his wife and a few close friends, Cliff has produced over 3,000 podcast episodes, since December 2005, devoted to Entertainment, Family, Faith, Fitness, Career and Technology.
In January 2008, Cliff left a very successful career as an insurance agent, to pursue podcasting full-time. He felt called spend his life serving the community that had formed around the many shows in his network. Being a husband and father of three, he needed to find a way to produce content, serve his community, and also provide for his family. Cliff focused on successfully generating income through coaching/consulting at PodcastAnswerMan.com. He has helped thousands of individuals and organizations launch successful podcasts though his one-on-one consulting/coaching and through his online training courses.
For more information Cliff’s work, please visit his website at PodcastAnswerman.com
I have recently launched my own podcast, Strategic Living with Brian Holmes. Cliff has been (and is) an invaluable resource. My show is world class, and will no doubt find great success because of Cliff’s commitment to helping his students fulfill their dreams and goals in online content delivery. I strongly recommend Cliff, and his Podcasting A-Z Course.
As an alumni of Cliff’s program, he has authorized me to offer his Podcasting A-Z course to my friends and followers at a deeply discounted price.
What was your relationship like with your natural father?
How has that impacted your ability to relate with God as your Father in heaven? Do you really know Him as Daddy God? On today’s podcast, I want to share with you a little of my personal journey and from that, share with you some keys for being fully restored to and fully engaged with God as Father.
Biblical Principle: Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-24
And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
7 Things To Know About Your Father
- Father loves unconditionally
- The Father chastens those He loves
- We have already been given His approval, therefore, we need not perform to achieve it
- He also gives good gifts to His children
- It is the Father’s good pleasure to GIVE you the Kingdom
- He will never leave you or abandon you
- He, more than any earthly father, longs to see you prosper and be successful
We live in a day where there are SO many opportunities to learn, grow, and consume great content. One of the most awesome ways is those mediums that come to us by way of the internet. What is really great is that ALL of these can be done on a computer, smart phone, tablet, or otherwise. This is the way I do SO MUCH of my personal development. This is the way I feed my mind and spirit on a regular basis. I am asked all the time, Brian, what do you listen to; what do you read? Well today, I’m going to share with you ‘The 5 Blogs and Podcasts’ that I never miss.
Biblical Principle: Proverbs 1:1-7
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
One of my governing values is ‘I AM A LEARNER’. In today’s hectic and busy culture, I find that we have to be very disciplined and intentional if we are going to consistently be feeding our mind and spirit
Obviously we recommend READING books; I am on my 7th book this year. A wonderful way to do this on the go is with audiobooks (AUDIBLE.com). The truth is, however, that we are trending towards a very different way of consuming information. We enjoy doing it in BITE SIZES. We also seem to do better when the information is organized, and even fed to us in regular increments.
Some great ways of achieving this are:
- Identify the voices that speak TO YOU
- What kind of content challenges you, motivates you, and pushes you to go higher?
- Subscribe to these individual’s RSS feeds, podcasts, EMail lists
- This way you receive WHAT you want, WHEN you want it, and WHERE you want it
- Feedly or other RSS feed readers
For me, blogs and podcasts are my primary way of consuming the information I need to grow daily.
5 Blogs and Podcasts I Never Miss 1. Michael Hyatt (Podcast and Blog)
- About Intentional Leadership
- Over 100 Episodes in iTunes
- Subjects ranging from Finding Mentors, Developing New habits, Building Your Platform, Getting your message out, Balanced Living, Developing Great Presentations, Taking Care of Body, Getting Rest, The Practice of Stillness, How To Discern your calling, and so much more
- He has recently changed the format of his podcast, and now has a wonderful co host, Michele Kushatt
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MichaelHyatt.com
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Lance Wallnau (Blog and YouTube)
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Catalytic thought leader
- Trainer and consultant
- Leading voice in the world on the 7 mountains
- Prophetic insight into the church and it’s future
- His blog posts challenge my thinking and give tremendous revelation
- YouTube Channel
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LanceWallnau.com
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Ray Edwards (Podcast and Blog)
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My friend and colleague
- Ray is a unique and powerful leader in the internet marketing world
- He has mastered the art of blending his faith, leadership, and business acumen into one of the most useful and impactful blogs and podcasts available
- I love how he unabashedly lives his faith THROUGH his business, and communicates timeless principles from the Word of God that apply in every area of our lives
- On his podcast and blog, you will find helpful posts on leadership, life, business, marketing, productivity, and spiritual development.
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RayEdwards.com
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Dan Miller (Podcast and Blog)
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48 Days to The Work You Love
- Dan has mentored and coached thousands of people of the last number of years
- He teaches and believes, as I do, that you CAN find work that you love; you can become engaged in what it is God has created you to do, and do so in a way that is rewarding, fulfilling, and even profitable
- Dan has become not only a cherished friend in my life,but a real mentor.
- His podcast is one that I do not miss, ever. While I am not looking for a new career or job, his podcast inspires me to think outside the box; connect the desires of my heart to the skills I possess and opportunities that are before me
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48Days.com and 48Days.net
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Dani Johnson (Podcast and Blog)
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Dani is one of the most powerful ladies I know
- She has an amazing story that begins in a a drug infested home, and experiencing years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. She literally was homeless and destitute, and by God’s grace, she came up out of that to become a powerful trainer and equipper of people in the areas of success, financial freedom, and spiritual development.
- Like Ray Edwards, I LOVE the way she teaches timeless principles but integrates her faith and the power of God into the mix.
- DaniJohnson.com
Other Podcasts and Blogs I Consume Regularly
• ReadToLead Podcast • MicheleCushatt • PodcastAnswerman – Cliff Ravenscraft • Starve The Doubts Podcast by my friend Jared Easley • Lysa TerKeurst • RachelWojo.com • Sandi Krakowski • Skip Pritchard
Resources Mentioned: 1. AUDIBLE 2. FEEDLY
It is amazing how we go about our lives and never realize the accumulation of STUFF. Files, papers, receipts, extras of everything, a garage full of sports equipment, camping gear that is never used, boxes, etc. What about BOOKS, magazines, or even the E-mail inbox? The truth is, there is something about the human condition where we want to collect and keep YET, there is a time to throw away, clean out, and get rid of things. In addition to ‘stuff’, we also find the intangible areas in chaos and disarray. Finances, our health, our relationships, our schedule, and so many other areas tend to get bogged down, and in extreme cases, out of order. Today, we are talking about ‘Clearing Out the Clutter and Getting Your House In Order’.
Biblical Principle:
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything 3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
5 Key Reasons to Clean Out The Clutter and Get House In Order
- Decrease stress
• 84% of stressed out Americans said they worried about their homes being disorganized, not clean, and out of order • 42% experienced more anxiety when their homes or lives were in disarray or cluttered • Worry (whether conscious or unconscious) causes stress … stress causes sickness
- Clear Your Mind, Find More energy
• Perceived chaos or unresolved disorder has been proven to restrict your ability to focus • The clutter literally limits your brains ability to process information • You gain more energy as a result of clearing your mind
- Breathe Easier … Improve Your Health
• Physical ‘STUFF’ collects dust • The Journal of Environmental Science and Technology showed that dust from clutter can contain arsenic, decomposing bugs, pollen, human skin, fecal matter from dust mites, and even DDT
- Improve Relationships
• How many times has STUFF and clutter caused an argument in your home? • Has the frustration of not being able to ‘find’ something or ‘tripping over’ something ever caused you to be angry and it ruined an evening?
- Make Room for New Blessings
• Two objects cannot occupy the same space • Literally and figuratively • Also, God is not likely to release something new and fresh in your life as long as you insist on holding on to the OLD STUFF
5 Steps That Will Help You Clear the Clutter in your Life, and begin the process of bringing things into order:
- Identify – The big rocks or projects that need to be done
- Prioritize – Take one at a time
- Decide – What do I keep, what do I archive, and what do I throw away or discard
- Execute – Do the work, follow through with your plan
- Celebrate – Enjoy the state of being ready to receive whatever God has for you in a new season of life
Resources Mentioned:
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America, with all of its faults and challenges, still remains a shining beacon of hope, freedom, and opportunity. Without question, the USA stands as evidence of the grace and blessing of God. As I have crisscrossed this nation for the last 20 years, having visited more than 2/3 of the states, what I see is a beautiful land; a blessed people, and a nation that God Himself has raised up as a light.
On this week’s episode, we take time to give thanks and pray that God will bless our nation once more as we turn our hearts towards Him.
Over the last 50 years in this nation, there has been an intentional attempt to diminish that light. The most impressive enemy of our day is not Russia; it is not Iran; it is not North Korea or even Al Qaeda. The greatest enemy of our nation is complacency and division.
The Bible clearly states that ‘A nation divided against itself cannot stand’. Never before in our nation’s history has their been such division and strife between people groups:
- Republicans and Democrats
- Libertarians and Independents
- Blacks and Whites
- Conservatives and Liberals
- Pro-choice and pro-life
- Socialists and Capitalists
- The Bible is clear also that it is at the place of UNITY where God commands the blessing:
Psalm 133:1-3
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.
Our nations forefathers, with all of their own issues and faults, found it necessary to come together around a set of values
Declaration of Independence:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
Proverbs 14:34
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
“In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief, or the corruption of its doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions; in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom. Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them.” – Jedediah Morse 1799
II Chronicles 7:11-22
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s palace, and successfully completed all that [c]he had planned on doing in the house of the Lord and in his palace. 12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people [d]who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the [e]prayer offered in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances,18 then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, ‘[f]You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.’ 19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot you from My land which I have given [g]you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22 And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.’”
One of the guiding principles in my life is that one MUST be committed to personal growth if he/she wants to be successful in life. While this may look different for each person, there are some key areas that are so important if we desire to become the full expression of what God has created us to be. We must …
- Grow Spiritually
- Grow Your Character
- Grow Your Mind
- Grow Your Competency
- Grow Your Confidence
- Grow Your Vision
- Grow Your Influence
In this episode, we are going to share with you a strategy to ’Developing Your Personal Growth Plan’
Scriptural Principle
Proverbs 18:15-16
15 The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
So how does a person become INTENTIONAL about personal growth and development? What does it look like for a man/woman to be actively involved in expanding and growing your potential?
Why should we even concern ourselves with personal development or growth?
This program is all about Strategic Living. It is about BECOMING all God created you to be. It is about becoming the FULL EXPESSION of the true potential that is within you.
Potential is not realized by osmosis. Potential is realized through planning, hard work, discipline and blatant intentionality.
- Tiger Woods did not wake up one day and just take over the golf world because he thought it would be cool
- John Maxwell, great author and authority on Leadership did not just happen into his massive sphere of influence
- These and other great leaders answered a call, but went to work, intentionally, on themselves
- They train, the read, they practice, they deal with their weaknesses, they work on GROWING
7 Key Areas for Personal Growth and Success
1.Grow Spiritually
- Relationship with God
- Inner peace
- Soul health
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Connectedness to others
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Grow Your Character
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Identify areas of character deficiencies
- Be ruthless with your weaknesses
- Check your attitudes
- Are you lazy or disciplined?
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Are you waiting for ‘it’ to happen, or are you making it happen?
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Grow Your Mind
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As a man thinketh, so is he
- What are your limiting beliefs?
- What knowledge do you need to acquire?
- Are you feeding your mind?
- Are you a reader?
- Podcasts
- Classes, seminars, webinars, courses
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Be a learner!
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Grow Your Competency
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You can’t ’perform’ well if you have not prepared well
- If you want to be a writer, you have to work at become a writer
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If you aspire to BECOME good at something, you have to invest in relevant training and expose yourself to people in that field
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Grow Your Confidence
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Knowledge and Competency foster confidence
- The more you DO something, the better you become
- The better you become, the more confident
- Address insecurities
- Deal with limiting belief systems
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Eradicate and eliminate negative voices and influences
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Grow Your Vision
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Without vision, people perish
- No vision, no future
- Awaken dreams
- Dream BIG
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Create plans
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Grow Your Influence
Proverbs 18:16 – 16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
- Who are you called to influence, and are you prepared to meet them?
REVIEW:
- Grow Spiritually
- Grow Your Character
- Grow Your Mind
- Grow Your Competency
- Grow Your Confidence
- Grow Your Vision
- Grow Your Influence
QUESTIONS:
- Do you have a personal development and growth plan?
- Do you have someone in your life that can hold you accountable to that plan?
- Are you willing to make time for personal growth?
Book Recommendation
In keeping with this week’s topic, I want to recommend the following book to you. John Maxwell offers a powerful, yet practical insight into some KEYS, what he calls LAWS that if lived out and followed, will result in not only growth, but success and fulfillment on levels unimagined. ‘The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth’ by John Maxwell.
One of the new and emerging trends in business is that of Social Entrepreneurship. While there are many variations and definitions of it, in our minds it is the convergence of the business savvy and resources of the entrepreneurial spirit, and a specific social need or cause. Those individuals who champion such a cause literally change the world with an idea, while at the same time, they are able to create opportunity and rewards for those who engage with them in that cause.
Today on our program, I interview Sam Caster, a leader and pioneer in this new era. You will want to hear this entire program, as Sam explains the power behind this new movement, and introduces us to a new company that is sure to make a global impact by eradicating malnutrition around the world.
Meet Sam Caster
Sam Caster is an inspiring, heartfelt speaker and visionary social entrepreneur. He has dedicated his life to solving the global epidemic of malnutrition.
In 1999, Sam co-founded Manna Relief Ministries, a non-profit organization designed to help in the distribution of its whole food based nutritional support products. By 2014, Manna Relief Ministries had distributed over 80 million daily servings of whole food nutrition to malnourished children in over 85 countries.
Sam focuses much of his time cultivating new alliances with global relief and feeding organizations in order to reach the world’s most vulnerable children through the EM Squared project.
In 2014, Sam was invited by former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, to help put together and launch the EM Squared project. The EM Squared project is a global social enterprise designed to provide the most advanced standardized, whole food solutions to the epidemic of childhood malnutrition. This movement provides the opportunity for compassionate people, anywhere in the world, to participate in the rewarding new business model of social entrepreneurship while creating a sustainable funding mechanism for its donation program through the project “Buy 1 Feed 2” program.
I am please to announce that Brian Holmes Ministries, and BrianHolmes.com has partnered with EMSquared in this noble cause. We believe that it is our responsibility to help those who are less fortunate, and to make a difference in the world by giving back. We strongly believe that God has directed us to make this project a primary focus of our global mission. We would love for you to join us.
For more information on how YOU can become involved in this new movement, and how you can make a difference in the life of precious children around the world, please click the image below, and you will be directed to our EMSquared affiliate page, OR, you may contact us directly at BrianHolmes.com/contact-us
As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives. – Henry David Thoreau
What we THINK or BELIEVE to be true governs the outcomes in our lives in a very real way. It stands to reason, then, that if there is a limiting belief or thought process in our mind, if we CHANGE our mind, then the results and outcomes will change as well. The MIND, the THOUGHTS, the BELIEFS we hold govern our ability to produce God size results. If you are unsatisfied with where your life is today, there is ONE clear recommendation I can make to you with confidence. Change Your Mind … and you really will Change Your World!
While you and I possess UNLIMITED potential, we are limited to what we believe at a CORE level. What your heart believes is that which will determine the direction and outcomes of your life
You actually move toward your current, most dominant PICTURE of how you see yourself and your future.
So the image or belief we hold in our mind concerning a thing, produces an outcome that resembles exactly what we believe. If the image or belief we hold is not what God KNOWS about us, we produce less than that which God intended and designed.
How the Mind Works
- Conscious – That part of the mind that HEARS and RECEIVES new information and input. That which you see, feel, taste, touch.
- Sub-conscious – The part of the mind where all previous information is stored. It is the hard drive of the mind containing memories, developed beliefs, hurts, wounds, experiences, perceptions, and identities. Your CORE BELIEFS. Everything you do; every decision you make; every position you take; is because of what you believe on this level
- Creative Conscious – This is the part of the mind that is responsible to REFEREE between the conscience and the sub-conscience. It is that part that REGULATES you back to the BELIEF that you hold. This part WORKS HARD AND NON-STOP to make sure that you never move outside the parameters set by your sub-conscience mind
How Are Beliefs Formed
- Educational Models and Perspectives
- Parents’ Mindsets and Beliefs
- Religious Teachings and Dogma
- Successes and Failures
- Emotions
- Feelings
- Senses
- Observations
- Models
- Mental Conditioning
- Self Talk
REMEMBER: We act in accordance with the truth as we believe it to be, whether it is true or not!
- A negative mindset causes a perpetual posture of DOUBT
- DOUBT creates HESITATION (or paralysis)
- HESITATION leads to failure
- Mindsets are what creates your expectations
- Your expectations are self-fulfilling prophecy
- What you EXPECT, you get
- A mindset LOCKS you into a realm, thereby limiting your level of result and achievement
The Power of Mindsets
Mindsets (strongly held beliefs) are contained in the sub-conscious part of our mind. They become SECOND NATURE; meaning, we do not even THINK about them, we simply act according to the information we have selected as truth. In other words, our mindsets (good or bad), create for us what is NORMAL or expected. If my ‘normal’ is not producing the results I wish for, then what has become normal to me is likely not normal at all. A mindset not aligned with God’s truth (the only truth that really matters) holds the person to a measure and reality that is less than their actual, God-given potential. A mindset that is aligned WITH God’s truth awakens, engages, empowers, and releases my God-given potential, and converts it into real, tangible, and super-sized results.
How Do We Begin To Change our Mind?
- Identify faulty and limiting mindsets (Look at fruit)
- Move from passivity to intentionality as it relates to our thoughts and outcomes; Take every thought captive (arrest, do not entertain)
- Examine the Word of God; reflect and remember every ‘Word’ God has spoken to you or about you; Record every proclamation of truth about your identity, life, and future)
- From each statement, create summarized ‘affirmation’ or ‘confession’ statements that RE-FORM and RE-PLACE limiting beliefs
- Develop and engage the HABIT of reading/affirming/confessing these statements … every day … UNTIL
- Develop ‘I AM’ statements
- Engage in Accountability: have someone you trust hold you accountable in the area of your beliefs and conversation
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
As A Man Thinketh by James Allen
One of the most important aspects of living strategically and successfully is having a real understand of WHO YOU ARE, and WHAT God has graced you to do. So many people gravitate to the lane that LIFE has dictated to them. SO many wind up living their life to measure up to the expectations of others. Some live there lives LOCKED in a place that was never intended for them; their beliefs and their grid has produced for them a reality that is far less than what God desires
- Are you living authentically?
- Are you posing or pretending in order to achieve acceptance in someone elses picture?
- Are you ready to find your true self, and meet the man or the woman that God knows you to be?
In this episode, we are going to share with you ‘KNOW THYSELF: What Do You Know About You?’
Scriptural Principle
II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Proverbs 23.7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
- What you THINK is what you produce
- How we COMPUTE our self concept, self-esteem, and self worth has direct implications on how we perform in life and in leadership
- I cannot produce something I DON’T believe in!
The Process of Thought Transference:
- A source transmits its ideas through words or images
- Words heard or images seen transmits thoughts or ideas to our mind
- Thoughts conceived become IDEAS
- Ideas conceived become IDEOLOGIES
- Ideologies conceived become BELIEFS
- Beliefs conceived become CONVICTIONS
- Convictions conceived become PHILOSOPHIES
- Philosophies conceived become LIFESTYLES
- Lifestyles determine our DESTINY or destination
Our mindsets, attitudes, beliefs, and convictions are almost always determined by someone else’s ideas. The key to living effectively as the LEADER God has made you to be is to be receiving your THOUGHTS from the correct SOURCE. When your philosophy, beliefs, thoughts, and convictions are grounded in the way your were created to THINK, you will naturally rule over your ENVIRONMENT, and fulfill your LIFE’S PURPOSE. Your MIND matters, and it CONTROLS how you manage MATTER. When I truly understand what it means to made in the LIKENESS of the Creator, I will possess certain ATTITUDES and BELIEFS about myself that allow me to realize my LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL.
Four Areas of KNOWING:
Self-Concept/Image
- You are designed in HIS image
- This is the PICTURE of how you are suppose to see yourself
- The first thing the Creator gave man was not dominion, but rather it was his NATURE
- It was his SELF IMAGE or SELF CONCEPT
- If I do not know who I AM, then I cannot relate to others, or my world on the basis of truth, rather, I relate to them from a distorted perspective
- Man’s first gift from God was HIS IMAGE!
- The foundation of leadership is a sound SELF IMAGE
Self Worth
- Your self worth is the VALUE you place on yourself
- Leaders value OTHERS as they value themselves
- The majority of people do not have SELF WORTH, they have what we will call, OTHER’S WORTH
- This is the ACCEPTANCE of the worth OTHERS place on you.
- Many people spend their entire lives trying to LIVE UP TO other’s evaluations of them, GOOD or BAD.
- If someone expects LITTLE of me, I had better prove them right.
- You cannot give SIGNIFICANCE until you have it for YOURSELF.
Deut 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and [a]foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
- A healthy INTRAPERSONAL relationship is a pre-requisite for effective and meaningful INTERPERSONAL relationships.
- Your attitude toward me is a REFLECTION of your attitude toward yourself
- How can I LEAD others effectively if I presently possess a poor and ungodly self-concept, self worth, and self esteem?
Self – Esteem
- Self Worth asks, “How much value do I believe I have?
- Self Esteem asks, “What does this mean to my environment?
- Self esteem is your self-estimation of your value to the world around you
Self Awareness
- KNOW THYSELF
- When a person gets to know his CREATOR, and finally comes to KNOW HIMSELF, then his LEADERSHIP is born
The entire world is awaiting the SONS of God to awaken, engage, and act like the LEADERS God has created us to be. We must examine our THOUGHTS, our BELIEFS, our PHILOSOPHIES, and our CONVICTIONS and be renewed in our MIND so that we may LEAD with purpose.
QUESTIONS:
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What do you KNOW about you?
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Do you see yourself the way God sees you?
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Do you ascribe an accurate VALUE to your worth?
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Are you AWARE of your significance, and the weightiness of your assignment?
My encouragement to you is… KNOW THYSELF
It is an honor for me to have my dear friend and colleague, Ray Edwards, back on the program this week. I have been following Ray and his work for over 18 months, and have come to not only respect him as a business leader, but truly honor him as a man of God. Ray and I met last year at the Platform Conference, and we both knew immediately that our meeting was a divinely inspired connection. As we shared our hearts with one another, it became clear that we had much in common. I recently visited Ray in Spokane, WA (his hometown), and participated with him in a powerful mastermind event. I count it a great privilege to call him a friend and a brother.
In this episode, Ray and I discuss transition, focus, relationships, and so much more. I trust you will benefit greatly as you listen to the interview as we talk about, ‘Slowing Down, Making Space, and Preparing for the Next Level’.
Ray Edward’s Bio:
Ray is probably best known as a Direct Response Copywriter, Product Launch Manager, Internet Marketing Strategist and conference speaker. Campaigns he’s written and/or directed have resulted in an estimated $100 million in sales.
He’s had the good fortune to working with (and learning from) some stellar clients, including New York Times Best-selling authors Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul), Joel Comm (author of Twitter Power and The Adsense Code), Raymond Aaron (author of Double Your Income Doing What You Love) as well as Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Jeff Walker, and many others.
Ray speaks frequently at seminars on copywriting, promotions and marketing, for professionals in those fields.
For more information about Ray’s work, please visit his website at
www.RayEdwards.com
Are you STUCK in a cycle of grieving over something that has happened to you? Are you holding on to anger, resentment, or bitterness over a wrong that was committed in your life? Are you ready to be FREE of what has been holding you back?
As we are all about living life strategically, we must know that that requires us to live our life HONESTLY. We must be willing to grapple with those issues of the heart that are keeping us from moving forward. As we discussed in Episode #041, this is a matter of the SOUL, and the soul must be whole if our lives are to manifest our full potential.
In this episode, we are going to share with you ‘The Power of Forgiveness’.
Scriptural Principle
Matthew 6:12, 14-15
- And forgive us our debts AS WE ALSO forgive our debtors 14. For IF you forgive others for their transgressions, THEN your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15. BUT if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your trespasses
This passage is quite amazing and daunting at the same time. The implication of this text is that God’s ability, capacity, and willingness to release freedom and forgiveness TO me is proportionate, and tied directly to my ability, capacity, and willingness to forgive others. Unforgiveness, then, becomes a monumental liability in my life; given the fact that I am unable to make progress when my wagon is laden with things I have consciously CHOSEN to hold on to.
Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.”When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
The word FORGIVE in the original (Greek) language means:
- To send away or let off
- To pardon, or to remit
- To overlook an offense
- To treat the offender as if they were NOT GUILTY
Could it be that the reason some people are so ANGRY and FRUSTRATED in their lives is because they have been turned over to the TORMENTORS? Could it be that they know NOTHING of the peace of God because in the past somewhere they made a CHOICE…they refused to offer true genuine forgiveness to their brother of sister?
Unforgiveness binds us with BITTERNESS, and ANGER and robs us of joy, happiness, and freedom. The greatest hindrance in forgiving others comes out of our lack of willingness to take and HONEST look at ourselves and our need for forgiveness. When we begin to recognize and acknowledge OUR deep need for forgiveness, it will not be difficult to offer forgiveness to someone else.
Mark 11:22-26
22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I being completely HONEST about areas of unforgiveness in my life?
- Am I tired of carrying the burden of this weight?
- Why aren’t my prayers being answered?
- Will I choose to be FREE?
- Have I truly forgiven that person or persons?
Declarations/Truths
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)
- ALL THINGS are possible to them that believe…(Mark 9:23)
- My ability to forgive determines my ability to be forgiven/saved
- Being honest in all areas of my life is the most difficult task I have, especially being honest with myself.
- It is impossible to be honest with others, if I am not honest with myself.
- I cannot change what I am not willing to acknowledge
- God can not violate my will
STEPS:
- Name the person(s)
- Acknowledge that there are unresolved issues in YOUR heart
- Pray and ask God to give you the grace and courage to let them go
- Release them from the cord of your Unforgiveness
- YOU, be released from the prison of your Unforgiveness
- Forgive, let them go, and remember no more
- Be free, and allow that place in your heart to heal
The ‘SOUL’ of man is a vital part of our lives. In fact, as the soul goes, so goes every area of our life. The soul is where the will, the mind, the emotions, the memories, our beliefs, and so much more is held. It is literally the ‘womb’ that carries our potential. In order for our lives to manifest our full potential, our souls must be healed. In this episode, I share an overview of this concept, and provide ‘7 Steps To Healing The Broken Soul’.
Brian’s Book Corner
We are introducing a new segment this week; a book review and recommendation. Periodically, I will provide a summary review of a book that I am reading, one that I believe will add value to your ‘becoming’ process.
This week, we are looking at ‘The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth’ by John Maxwell.
In typical John Maxwell style, he offers a powerful, yet practical insight into some KEYS, what he calls LAWS that if lived out and followed, will result in not only growth, but success and fulfillment on levels unimagined.
The Laws:
- The Law of Intentionality
- The Law of Awareness
- The Law of the Mirror
- The Law of Reflection
- The Law of Consistency
- The Law of Environment
- The Law of Design
- The Law of Pain
- The Law of the Ladder
- The Law of the Rubber band
- The Law of Trade-offs
- The Law of Curiosity
- The Law of Modeling
- The Law of Expansion
- The Law of Contribution
I have been reading (and listening) to this book. In fact, I am repeating each chapter multiple times as it is really helping me where I am today. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It should be REQUIRED reading on every high school and university campus, AND, every adult should take time to process its contents. It WILL change your life.
Healing The Broken Soul
In this episode, I want to give you a brief introduction to this topic, and share with you why I believe … EVERY PERSON SHOULD PURSUE HEALING, RECONCILIATION, AND RESTORATION so they can experience the full measure of what God has for their lives.
I Thes. 5.23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
While we are saved, redeemed, justified, sanctified, and cleansed, many of us STILL are walking as the world walks; depressed, confused, irrational, defeated, never able to break through to new levels, etc. This is NOT God’s will for His people, but there are REAL reasons why things are the way they are. One of these factors is that many believers have BROKEN SOULS. It is the SOUL that must be healed. It is the SOUL that must be liberated and set free.
We are TRI-Partied beings. Made after God’s image and likeness, we possess three distinct yet related parts in our human existence. We are SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY. When all three parts are functioning in harmony and completeness, there is RIGHTEOUS, PEACE, and JOY… Sounds like KINGDOM to me!
What is the SOUL?
Our soul is the part of us that contains our will, our emotions, and our thoughts, which in turn, control the course of our mind and eventually produce actions. Everything that takes place in our mind is housed within the soulish arena of our created being. The soul is the place where memories are kept—good and bad. It is the place where wounds, hurts, disappointments, fears, and our sense of failures are contained. What I carry in this compartment GOVERNS my thoughts, actions, decisions, etc.”
Proverbs 23.7 – “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he …”
What is a Soul Tie?
A soul tie is defined as follows:
When the emotions, the mind, and the will of a person becomes entangled to the point where their thoughts are no longer their own (or independent of someone else’s); it occurs when a person or entity is unnaturally and/or inordinately affected by the will, emotions, desires, and situations of someone, or something else. NOTE: Not all soul ties are ungodly or detrimental.
Types of Soul Ties
- Relational Soul Ties
- Covenantal/Vow Soul Ties
- Allegiance and Alliance Soul Ties
- Sexual Soul Ties
III John 2 …”even as your SOUL prospers.”
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
The Soul
- The soul contains the thoughts, memories, the will, the intellect
- That area MUST be healthy and free if the other areas of my life are to prosper.
- It is inside-out living – If I can get my soul to be free of all unhealthy ties, my life will begin to bear the fruit of all God’s promises
7 Steps To Healing The Broken Soul
- Acknowledge – You can’t change …
- Confess – Bring it into the light
- Resolve – Be willing to deal with the pain of the root
- Forgive and Release – Let them go so you can be free
- Pray – Ask Father to meet you in the moment
- Receive – Receive healing, forgiveness, and restoration
- Live and Become – Become the person God created you to be, and live out your true destiny by His grace
God longs for you to allow him to heal you completely. Your soul must be healed, and all other areas will become aligned and healthy. Submit yourself to the process, and watch as your life is transformed into something more beautiful than you ever imagined possible. You are HIS child … You are His workmanship. God doesn’t make mistakes, and He certainly doesn’t make no junk!
There is a great need in our culture for agents of cultural transformation. Every segment of society is under the influence of someone’s leadership and agenda. Our challenge is that the sons of God have been AWOL. We have not been engaged in the place of our assignment. In this episode, we are going to introduce you to the concept of the 7 Mountains of Cultural Influence, and how YOU can become activated and engaged in your God ordained place of assignment, and bring the Kingdom of God to the sphere you are called to impact.
Anniversary Report:
As you know, my wife and I just got back from our vacation in Lake Tahoe, celebrating 25 years of marriage. We stayed at the very lovely Hyatt Sierra Mountain Lodge, near the shores of Lake Tahoe. We spent 6 wonderful days experiencing the beauty and majesty of this wonderful area. It was a significant time for Sabrina and me, as we reflected on our first 25 years together, and dreamed about the next 25 years and all that God has for us.
Scriptural Principle:
Isaiah 2:1-3
1 The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Now it will come about that In the last days, the mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. 3 And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Romans 12:2
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
In 1975, Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade, and Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With a Mission, had lunch together in Colorado. God simultaneously gave each of these change agents a message to give to the other. During that same time frame Francis Schaeffer was given a similar message. That message was that if we are to impact any nation for Jesus Christ, then we would have to affect the seven spheres, or mountains of society that are the pillars of any society.
THE 7 MOUNTAINS
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- Church/Religion
- Family
- Education
- Media/Communication
- Government/Politics
- Performing Arts/Entertainment/Sports
- Business/Finance Other Resources and Links on the 7 Mountains:
The 7 Cultural Mountains
The 7 Mountain Strategy
Lance Wallnau – The 7 Mountain Mandate
It is an honor for me to introduce you to my dear friend and colleague, Dan Miller. I met Dan originally in Atlanta in May of 2012. Since that time, I have been reading his books and blogs, listening to his podcast, and participating in his 48Days Community on a regular basis. Dan is one of the most genuine people I know, and I have come to respect him a great deal. In this interview, Dan and I discuss the power of relationships, strategic connections, and becoming a part of a Mastermind Group.
Dan Miller’s Bio:
Dan Miller, President of 48 Days LLC, specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes that meaningful work blends our natural skills and abilities, our unique personality traits and our dreams and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be. Dan is the author of the New York Times best-selling 48 Days To The Work You Love, No More Dreaded Mondays and Wisdom Meets Passion. He has been a guest on CBS’ ‘The Early Show,’ MSNBC’s ‘Hardball with Chris Mathews,’Moody MidDay Connection, and the Dave Ramsey Show. Dan has spoken at the White House Christian Fellowship, and is in high demand at national conferences speaking on aging and changes in the workplace as well as at universities and churches. Over 130,000 people have subscribed to his weekly newsletter, his 48 Days Podcast consistently ranks in the top 3 under Careers on iTunes, and the 48Days.net business community is viewed as an example around the world for those seeking to find – or create – work they love. Committed to personal priorities, Dan and his wife Joanne are approaching their 45th anniversary and have 3 world-changing children and 12 amazing grandchildren. What does it mean to be fully alive in your work? Many of us are not yet doing what God put us here to do. Dan looks at the changing work models and outlines a plan for integrating your dreams and your passions into your daily activities. If you’ve ever buried your dreams in an attempt to be “practical” or “realistic,” Dan will show you how embracing those very dreams is the most practical way to enjoy life and achieve the success you’re looking for.
The Power of The Mastermind Group
Back in 1935, in Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill wrote that a Mastermind group was the one essential behind every successful person he interviewed! And yet with that information having been read by most anyone serious about their success, very few people take the initiative to find or create their own Mastermind team. You may have goals, strategies and tactics for achieving a high level of success, but without a Mastermind group you’re polishing a Ferrari with no gas in the tank. How would you like to have your own team of hand-picked advisors committed to your personal success? What could you do with expert advice, wise counsel, and a network of successful people at your finger-tips? You know, the hottest business principle today is “collaboration” not “competition.” What could you do with the collaboration of your own mastermind group? I don’t know anyone who has become extraordinarily successful who has not utilized the principle of the mastermind group. Whether you’re a small business owner, a personal growth seeker, a consultant, a free-lanceworker, a real estate agent, an artist or a corporate employee, you can benefit from being part of a Mastermind Group. Being part of aMastermind Group is like having your own board of directors. Except there’s no hidden agenda – everyone is openly committed to the success of the other members. In this course you’ll discover
- Why you Need a Mastermind Group?
- How Do I Start a Mastermind Group?
- Selecting the Members of your Group
- How Do I Run a Mastermind Group?
These are short segments designed to give you the essentials and get you up and running with your own Mastermind group immediately. Success doesn’t require that we’re born in the right place, have the right IQ or have the right degree – but it does require that we take the right action. Just click the image right here to the right of this video to start your right action now.
On April 29th, 1989, Sabrina and I walked down the aisle in Mesquite, Texas. Although we had no idea what we were in for, God had great plans for our future. He knew that out of our brokenness, we would bring healing to thousands. He knew that out of our commitment to each other, and the covenant we made with Him, we would raise and send out two amazing children that in time, would change the world. He knew that our testimony, our story, and our experiences would BE the platform from which we could offer hope and healing to people around the world.
In this episode, I share with you from my heart, and reflect on 25 years of Covenant, Commitment, and the Building of our Character.
As I look back over 25 years of marriage, I am grateful for every trial; every battle; every lesson; even the pain. As I look back over 25 years of marriage, I am grateful that God selected someone for me that would put up with my faults, see in me what God saw, and stay with me long enough to experience this beautiful new season we now embark on.
- I believe in the sanctity of COVENANT.
- I believe in the value and power of COMMITMENT.
- I believe in the process of building of CHARACTER.
These factors, and the value ascribed to them are paramount to our success in relationships, in business, and in life.
To my wife, Sabrina …
After 25 years, you are STILL the love of my life. You are my biggest fan. You are my reason WHY. You are an amazing mother. You are my best friend. I still love your ‘knock knees’ and your RED hair (even though it’s now sprinkled with a little bit of gray). You are more beautiful today than the day I met you. I believe that the next 25 years are going to be the very best we have ever known. This is our time, and we will know and experience everything God planned for us before we even started this journey.
I love you, I cherish you, and I need you now more than ever before.
Yours forever,
Brian
When God escorts you into a season of change and transition, it always involves the opportunity for growth. Are you currently experiencing the upheaval of change and transition? Do you feel as though God is moving you towards something new, even though you are not completely clear on what that is? On this episode, I want to talk about the 10 Things I’ve Learned In The Process Of Personal Transition.
10 Things I’ve Learned In The Process Of Personal Transition
- Everything is for a season … its season
2. If I perform to meet man’s expectations, I risk missing the blessing of what God has prepared for me.
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When the student is ready, the teacher appears
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Nothing changes until something changes
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What I am going through today is the building blocks for my tomorrow
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God is always working on ME
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While I am capable of doing many things, I cannot do everything and expect to anything well.
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It is impossible to engage a new season carrying the old season’s baggage
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There is nothing more important in my life than the leadership of the Holy Spirit
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Never quit in the MIDDLE of transition; the other side is worth the process
Every one of us are wired to dream and to have vision. Without VISION (some idea where you are going), we literally begin to die or perish. There is this idea that ‘if you don’t aim at some target, you are sure to hit it. In other words, if there is not a visually and emotionally compelling focus or GOAL for which I am directing my energy, my heart, my mind, my work, my efforts, my LIFE, I am relegated to wandering aimlessly and accomplishing little. Another idea is that we are pre-destined (DESTINY) or destination. We believe that God has designed EACH of us with a unique purpose and calling, and specifically wired us and equipped us FOR that assignment.
All of these principles are true and accurate, YET, why is it that so few people actually ever experience the FULL expression of what God really has for them. In this episode, I want to share with you a process for become clear on VISION, setting goals, effective planning and execution.
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.” – Michelangelo, Artist
Premise #1 – God Has Plans
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV)
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (NASB)
Premise #2 His plans are for my SUCCESS
John 10:1-15 (New Living Translation)
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Premise #3 Life is a Choice
Deuteronomy 30:14-19 (NASB)
15 “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; 16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
What Does It Mean to Live Intentionally or Strategically?
Strategy: A plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining a specific goal or result
Living: Having life; being alive; not dead: active or thriving; vigorous; strong: flowing freely: a particular manner, state, or status of life: luxurious living.
Strategic Living: The vigorous and free flowing pursuit of being alive, while actively crafting and working with dreams, plans, stratagems, methods, and acquired skills to achieve a pre-determined result.
- Strategic Living is knowing God’s plan, and living it!
- Strategic Living is not happenstance or hopeful randomness
- Strategic Living is not flying by the seat of the pants
- Strategic Living is not the repetition of purposeless activity
- Strategic Living is the process and procedure of manifesting the plans of God through intentional and systematic movement
- Strategic Living is the substance of managing and stewarding my God-given potential
- Strategic Living is INTENTIONAL LIVING!
HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS?
There are several major components to living a successful life:
- Values List
- Passions List
- Talents, Skills, Abilities List
- Where these components intersect and meet
- Major Sphere you are called to engage
- Purpose/Mission Statement
- Vision/Destiny Statement
- Major Goals List (Determined by Vision)
- Intermediate Goals (Determined by major goals)
- Short-Term Goals (Determined by intermediate goals)
Remember, Strategic Living is about INTENTIONAL living. It is about living my day to day life in such a way that I am consistently DOING what needs to be done in order that I might BECOME what I was created to be. It is about THINKING it out, PLANNING it out, and WALKING it out.
“Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire.” – Napoleon Hill
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5
Things to consider when building your Life Plan:
- Know Thyself!
- Be clear about the vision God has given you
- Do not limit yourself to past successes or failures
- Identify the BIG ROCKS (Goals)
- Think …Plan…Execute
- Strive to have BALANCE in all areas of life:
- Family and Home
- Financial and Career
- Spiritual and Ethical
- Physical and Health
- Social and Cultural
- Mental and Educational
It is an honor for me to introduce you to my dear friend, John Morgan (a.k.a., President George W. Bush). I met John in 2013 at the Platform Conference in Nashville, TN, over the course of that year, we became close friends. John travels the world encouraging, challenging, and uplifting the hearts of men and women, and we are privileged to have him on the program.
This show is different than any other I’ve done, as John and I allow you, the listener, in on our conversation. I trust you will enjoy this interview with ‘W’.
John Morgan’s Bio:
For most Americans, there’s nothing like being in the presence of the President of the United States. We know we’re touching history, and for a few moments we feel bigger than life. A chance encounter with the President is a wonder we can’t wait to describe to our friends. When it happens, we want to get as close as possible, shake hands and exchange a word—so we can tell our grandchildren.
John C. Morgan is a rare phenomenon. He was recently hired to add the “Extra WOW factor” for a John C. Maxwell training event. Most people don’t realize that he’s an impersonator, because he’s just that good. But even if they’re expecting an impersonator, John takes them by surprise. He’s amazingly gifted with George W. Bush’s physical appearance, and he has assiduously cultivated the President’s mannerisms and speech patterns. The hair, the shrug, the laugh, the nod, even the verbal Bush-isms—John C. Morgan makes you feel like you’re speaking with the President himself. That’s what Dick Cheney, Jeb Bush and Barbara Walters thought when they met John C. Morgan in character!
On top of it all, John C. Morgan is a showman, musician, actor and comedian who plays the bit for all it’s worth. That’s how he guarantees events are full of surprises in which everyone participates. Whether “W” shows up in a limo with secret service agents to fire your starting gun, appears on the 7th tee to give some pointers and pose for pictures, shows up to make a foreign policy speech at your banquet, or all of the above and more, your guests will have a grand and unforgettable experience.
Stage presentations run the gamut from comedic and musical to dramatic and motivational. John’s performances not only entertain your guests but inspire them to focus on the purposes and themes of your gathering.
John will work with you personally to develop just the right performance elements for your event. His flexible approach allows for periods of spontaneous interaction, alternating with scripted performances.
JOHN MORGAN travels as “the face” of President George W. Bush at corporate, comedic, and faith-based events around the world, bringing joy and inspiration to millions of astonished people who might otherwise never have an audience with America’s Commander in Chief. With a small cadre of “Secret Service” agents stationed around him, John nods his head and greets the crowd with the President’s trademark Texas drawl. John’s show combines his hilarious but respectful impression of President Bush with a few famous George W. faux pas, blended with a mix of parody songs and finishes up with an inspiring message about hope and determination. He elicits heartfelt laughter from both sides of the political aisle.
Discovered at a “Bush For President” rally in 2000, Morgan went from selling appliances to performing at the President’s Inaugural. By 2007, John was bringing his big- time comedic impersonation to arenas all across America, appearing live before tens of thousands on Sean Hannity’s “Freedom Concerts” and before hundreds of thousands on “The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular,” where he amazed audiences with his guitar playing and singing.
Millions more have seen him on America’s Got Talent, The Family Feud, Headline News, Hannity & Colmes, E! Entertainment Network, ABC’s “The View,” and The 700 Club. Fans even voted him a finalist on ABC TV’s celebrity reality show, “The Next Best Thing.” John was awarded America’s # 1 Bush Impressionist along with two “Mirror Image” awards and a 2005 Cloney award for “Best Historical Impersonation” voted on by his peers. Has also been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, and interviewed in dozen’s of newspapers such as The Sunday London Times.
John was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. He and, his wife of 29 years, Kathy, still reside in sunny Orlando with their four sons, Christopher, Stephen, Daniel and Jonathan, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and three exciting grandkids. John’s inspiring journey is chronicled in print. My Life as a Bush…and My Heart for Imitating Jesus, with forward by Governor Mike Huckabee, is filled with laugh-out-loud stories, audacious encounters, and spiritual insights. Each chapter of John’s story encourages readers to become imitators of the greatest Man who ever lived.
You can find out more about John at
JohnCMorgan.com
The following story by Anthony de Mello captures what can happen if we don’t embrace our destiny and we lose our freedom to be eagles.
A man found an eagle’s egg and put it in a nest of a barnyard hen. The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All his life the eagle did what the barnyard chicks did, thinking he was a barnyard chicken. He scratched the earth for worms and insects. He clucked and cackled. And he would thrash his wings and fly a few feet into the air.
Years passed and the eagle grew very old. One day he saw a magnificent bird above him in the cloudless sky. It glided in graceful majesty among the powerful wind currents, with scarcely a beat of its strong golden wings. The old eagle looked up in awe. “Who’s that?” he asked. “That’s the eagle, the king of the birds,” said his neighbor. “He belongs to the sky. We belong to the earth—we’re chickens.” So the eagle lived and died a chicken, for that’s what he thought he was.
Today on the program, we are talking about Relationships; specifically, we want to look at the LAW OF ASSOCIATION.
Spiritual Principle
“He that walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm, (or destruction).” – Proverbs 13:20
“Do not be deceived and misled! Evil (ungodly) companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and moral and character.” – I Corinthians 15:33
Many times, we underestimate the POWER of relationships. When involved (especially at a heart level) with someone in relationship, a soul tie is formed. Keep in mind that not all soul ties are ungodly or unhealthy; however, it is imperative that we carefully examine past and present relationships to see them how God sees them.
Characteristics of Godly Relationships
- The other person involved in your life is committed to your spiritual growth
- This person is as concerned about YOUR well being and success as you are
- You should NEVER be in the position of always having to be the giver
- The relationship that is GODLY gives and receives with JOY
- A Godly relationship does not cause you to violate your conscience, or walk against the plan and will of God for your life
- A Godly relationship does not manipulate through anger or control, but rather, it motivates through love
The Law of Association
- Your life will rise or fall to the level of your associations/relationships
- If you want to know where you are going in life, just look at your friends!
Check The Fruit:
“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” – Matthew 7:16-18
Who are you YOKED with?
A yoke is a wooden instrument that BINDS two oxen together. Its purpose is to cause them to only be able to walk TOGETHER. Imagine trying to move on with your life in a new and Godly direction, being YOKED together with someone or something that is moving in an opposite direction. It creates strife, confusion, guilt, frustration, etc.
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? – II Corinthians 6:14
Associations to be considered:
- Old relationships
- Gifts
- Experiences with friend
- Old jobs
- Old church
- Old anointings
- Ungodly relationships
- People who don’t want to see you succeed, but you are still tied to them
- People who do not love you
- People who are not walking after God
- People who are broke and struggling
Exercise/Homework
- Ask God to reveal these to you
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what areas of your life are being impacted by these
• What does a healthy relationship look like?
• How can you gauge which relationships are good for you, and which ones are not?
• Are there certain characteristics to look for?
Today on the program, we will be looking at ‘The 7 Quality Characteristic of a Healthy, Life Giving Relationships”
Scriptural Principle
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 18:24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
‘The 7 Quality Characteristic of a Healthy, Life Giving Relationships”
- Love (as thyself)
- Honor: Celebration of difference
- Truth, Honesty, and Integrity
- Mutual Respect
-
- Trust
- Covenant – Faithfulness, Loyalty, Commitment
- Reciprocity – An exchange of life
QUESTIONS:
- Assess the relationships in your life today. How do they measure up to these qualities?
- Are YOU functioning on a high level in your relationships with others?
- What relationships do you have in your life that you realize are NOT healthy, life giving relationships?
NEXT WEEK: Next week, I am going to continue talking about relationships. Specifically, I will be dealing with ‘The Law of Association”
In this episode, we continue talking about RELATIONSHIPS.
- How do we navigate changes in relationships?
- Are all relationships meant to last for a lifetime?
- What do you do when a relationship is TESTED?
- What do you do when a relationship’s season has come to an end
- How do we steward the transitions in relationships from one level to another.
Today on the program, we will be looking at these kinds of questions, and talking about ‘How To Deal With Testing and Changes in Relationships’.
Spiritual Principle
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
Today, I want us to look at the inevitable TESTING and CHANGE that must come to every relationship, and how you can steward it in a way that produces a Godly result
The natural/organic path of a relationship is GROWTH. In fact …
Living things GROW; growing things CHANGE~
There are THREE things that can bring change (positive or negative) in a relationship:
- Testing
- Seasons
- Personal Choice
TESTING
- A traumatic event
- An offense
- Hurt feelings
- Hard words
- Betrayal
Over -reaction to any of these can produce an unwanted outcome. A mature individual who truly values relationship will be careful to steward the testing with a hope to graduate the relationship to another level. If you pass the test, you graduate to the next level. Now you get to enjoy the status, benefits, and joy of what the next level can produce in your life
SEASONS
Not every relationship is for every season. Sometimes God will send a person into your life, and for a month, or several years, that person will have a significant role in your life, BUT, in another season, that relationship is no longer as meaningful.
- High School, College, Personal Development, Mentoring, etc.
- As you move from one season to another in your life, the relationships in your life have to adjust to your new season, grow with you, or be left behind
- As you move from one level in your life to another, NOT EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE CAN OR WILL GO WITH YOU
PERSONAL CHOICE
Much like above, when you DECIDE to make significant changes in your life, or in the direction you are going in your life, this creates a demand on your present relationships that must be answered. A 3 degree course change … over time creates a distance between you and those you used to track with. People feel as though you have abandoned them, disconnected, moved on, when in fact, you simply answered God’s call to change directions.
7 Things you can do WHEN A RELATIONSHIP IS TESTED
- Don’t react … Be Still
- Pray
- Look in the mirror and take accountability
- When your heart is right … go to the person and talk with them
- Seek to understand
- Offer and receive forgiveness
- Reset
7 Things to check WHEN A RELATIONSHIP seems to be changing
- Understand your season
- Is the relationship ending or changing?
- What is God requiring of you?
- Has your change in direction constituted a separation or an adjustment?
- Is this relationship moving from one level to another?
- Has the relationship become toxic or limiting to your moving with God in this season?
- Does this relationship ADD to you, or TAKE from you?
QUESTIONS:
- Are there relationships in your life today that you know need attention?
- Have you experienced this TESTING and feel as though you left it undone?
- Is there someone you need to make things right with?
- Is there a relationship that you know God is requiring you to let go of?
- Are you willing to trust Him with your relationships?
WHEN YOU MAKE SPACE, GOD SENDS NEW THINGS
NEXT WEEK:
Next week, I am going to continue talking about relationships. Specifically, I will be dealing with ‘The 7 Quality Characteristics of a Healthy, Life Giving Relationship’
- What is life outside of relationships?
- How do we classify or categorize our relationships?
- Do relationships change in seasons of our lives?
- How do we navigate relationships when conflict or tests come?
Today, we’re going to be looking at these questions, and talking about ‘Understanding and Navigating the 5 Levels of Relationships’
Spiritual Principle
He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. – Proverbs 13:20
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. – Proverbs 17:17
I am deeply concerned about the state of relationships these days. While the advances of technology are wonderful, my fear is that electronic engagement has replaced heart level relationships. This is not the main points of this program, but a friend on Facebook does not (and should not) make you feel as though you possess some valuable relationship. Texting does not constitute real conversation that adds value to you or the person with whom you are texting.
Another concern that I have is that these kinds of relationship points have become EASY, COMFORTABLE, and cop-out ways to feel as though we are not isolated … alone. GOD DID NOT CREATE US TO DO LIFE ALONE!
A great mentor and friend shared with me …
“You only need two things to succeed in life … Relationships and Resources. If you have to choose between the two, always choose relationships, for true relationships will always open the way for resources.”
You can have all the money in the world, and have no meaningful relationships, and you are BROKE. You can have access to all kinds of resources, but if there is not a group of people that you exchange life with, you will ultimately be unfulfilled.
- We are interconnected
- We are inter-dependent
- We are designed by God to have meaningful connections, relationships, and interface
So many people evolve into beings of aloneness as a result of life’s wounds and hurts. As long as we deal with people, we will be disappointed, we will experience hurt, we will find and engage with imperfection. But this cannot drive us to being alone. This cannot make us people who dis-engage with communities, and friends, and loved ones. We need each other, and our destiny is tied to people.
Kinds of Relationships
- Family
- Mentors, Teachers, Spiritual Leaders
- Friends and Peers
- Workplace Relationships
- Casual Acquaintances
It is imperative that we know WHO WE ARE so that we can accurately and effectively identify where each relationship fits.
The Circle Test:
- Self – Know who you are
- Family – wife, children, mother, father, siblings, etc.
- Close friends – HOW CLOSE ARE THEY REALLY?
- Acquaintances/Tribe
- The Crowd
- Enemies/Fools
If God brings someone into your life that is meant to be a friend, and you keep them on the outside in your tribe, then you’ve missed an opportunity to receive and benefit from that exchange of life. Conversely, someone who is in your orbit and is intended to be just a crowd person or even an acquaintance, but you bring them into the CLOSE FRIEND circle, that relationship is destined to be one that takes from you, but ultimately does not reciprocate. Worse, is when you allow a FOOL into your inner circle, and their influence, attitudes, lack of willingness to grow, and overall lack of character begins to affect your own ability to pursue what God has for you
Every person has the potential for greatness, therefore every person has the potential to add something of value to your life, HOWEVER, one must use discernment in understanding where that person is in their journey, because not every relationship is right for this SEASON.
What I Know About Relationships
- Some relationships are for certain SEASONS. When that season has come to an end, it is not wise to continue to invest into the relationship, as you will drain yourself of the very resources
- Some relationships are covenantal in nature, and are sent by God to be LIFETIME relationships
- Some relationships are SITUATIONAL such as business relationships, educational, etc. Most times, these are also temporary
- Some relationships are STRATEGIC, and they have to do with your assignment in a particular season
- All (healthy) relationships are given by God to be mutually beneficial, and for the common good
NEXT WEEK:
Next week, I am going to continue talking about relationships. Specifically, I will be dealing with ‘What To Do When Relationships Are Tested.”
What does it mean to be a Lifestyle Learner? How can you gain the knowledge and expertise in an area of interest? Is learning a VALUE, a DISCIPLINE, or both? Is it possible to gain a world class education outside of a university or college setting? Today, we’re going to be looking at these questions, and talking about 7 Ways You Can Become A Lifestyle Learner.
Spiritual Principle
“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands seek guidance.” – Proverbs 1:5 (ESV)
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. – Proverbs 18:15 (ESV)
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed …” – II Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Becoming a lifelong learner begins with the understanding that the acquisition of new knowledge is the key to successful and effective living. In fact, the moment we suppose that we have arrived or know all we need to know, is the very moment we begin to diminish and become irrelevant and of no worth. Learning, growing, feeding our minds, developing our potential are all pre-requisites to significant opportunities coming our way
“Anyone who stops learning is OLD, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” (Henry Ford).
For me, learning is one of my top 5 values. I crave knowing … I am always looking for ways to enhance or build my knowledge base. Classic thinking is that one goes to school, graduates, goes to college, gets a job, and BAM, success is inevitable. Amongst evangelical Christians, one gets saved, attends church once per week, hears a sermon (remembers less than 1% of the content shared), and expects to live a victorious, powerful, purpose filled, blessed life.
Both of these scenarios have very flawed logic.
- So how do I continuously grow and learn?
- How do I use my time to gather and acquire knowledge and information?
- What are my options if my desire is to become a learner?
7 Ways You Can Become a Knowledge Gatherer and a Lifestyle Learner:
-
Read Books, Audio Books or Book Summaries
-
Audible.com
- Executive Book Summaries (www.summary.com)
-
www.GetAbstract.com
-
Listen to Podcasts and other Audio Programs
-
Any subject, and interest
-
Make your vehicle a University on Wheels
-
Read Blogs
-
ONLINE Courses in specialized areas
-
Attend conferences and workshops
-
Health and Wellness
- Platform
- Speaking
- Coaching
- Tradeshows
- Leadership Summits
-
Ministry
-
School/College/Certifications
-
Coaching
- Real Estate
- Accounting
- Nursing
- Specialized areas
-
Etc.
-
Ask
-
Who is already doing what you want to do?
- What experts do you admire?
- Get in their space, take them to lunch
I want to encourage you today to become a LIFESTYLE LEARNER. Turn off the TV, plug in a CD, DVD, or electronic resource and LEARN. Turn off Sports Radio, Talk Shows, and use the precious time you have to GROW YOUR MIND.
Many times, the reason people never realize their full potential is because God, in his graciousness, never put us in a position where we would shame ourselves by not being prepared for the moment. You have powerful potential … What will you do with it?
We talk often about the fact that God has specific PLANS for each of our lives – (Jeremiah 29:11). We also believe that every one of us were born for, and with, a purpose; a unique assignment – (Jeremiah 1). We further understand that each of us are given unique GIFTS, graces, talents, skills, abilities; and that our unique gifts are intended to FIT TOGETHER with other’s uniqueness’s to form ONE BODY (I Cor. 12)
It is obvious in scripture that God did NOT intend for His Body to be uniform; every part exactly the same; every person looking, sounding, saying, and doing the same things. In fact, diversity is seen in every part of God’s design. We all identify IN CHRIST, but we all possess a unique identity, purpose, calling, and destiny.
So how do we discover, develop, and deliver on our unique design? How do we engage our purpose and calling? In this episode, I am going to introduce to you the 7 Steps each person must go through to achieve Destiny Activation.
7 Steps to Destiny Activation
- Examination
The Psalmist David was a master at this. He regularly looked INWARD, and considered his heart, his ways, his path, and the direction his life was taking. In order to move beyond where you have been or where you are, it is imperative to understand what got you here.
- Beliefs, mindsets, attitudes, fears, etc.
- One must be willing to ASK the hard questions
- Am I happy doing what I am doing?
- Am I fulfilled?
- Am I doing what I was created to do?
- Is my life glorifying God and His Kingdom?
- What habits do I live, and are they serving God’s plans for my life
90% of WHERE you are is a result of what is on the inside; NOT because of external issues
- Transformation
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2
Transformation is the movement FROM one thing TO another; or one WAY to another. It is the operation of changing one configuration or expression into another: a change of variables or coordinates in which a function of new variables or coordinates is substituted for each original variable or coordinate. If I continue to allow the world to CONFORM me into its image or way of thinking, I will continue to see the same results and outcome.
-
Revelation
-
Who Are You, and Why Are You here?
- What is my purpose?
- What sphere am I called to engage and influence?
- What people group am I born to impact?
-
The I AM factor
-
Clarification
This is the process of discovering, honing in on, and getting clear on the WHAT, the WHY, and the HOW
-
Justification
-
Spiritual headship and alignment
- Covering and accountability
- Relationships/Friendships
- Strategic connections and influences
- Partnerships and alliances
-
Collaboration and connectedness
-
Preparation
15 Be diligent (STUDY) to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
You cannot give what you do not have. It is important to know that God does NOT anoint ignorance or lack of ability. The anointing enhances and multiplies what you already possess. School, certifications, read books, learn a skill or trade, speaking, writing, etc. If you are called to be a writer, you must become a student of writing, etc. Some examples are:
- Olympics – these people prepare YEARS for a 30 second performance
-
Jesus prepared 30 years for a 3 year gig
-
Affirmation
The apostles commended gifts to the larger body of people. In the Hebrew culture, and in many other cultures around the world, son’s are blessed and affirmed by their fathers. Workers were sent FROM the place where they had proven their gift and faithfulness. Jesus, before he was activated in His purpose was affirmed publicly by the Father. “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased!”
It is an honor for me to introduce you to my dear friend and colleague, Dan Miller. I met Dan originally in Atlanta in May of 2012. Since that time, I have been reading his books and blogs, listening to his podcast, and participating in his 48Days Community on a regular basis. Dan is one of the most genuine people I know, and I have come to respect him a great deal. Recently, Sabrina and I were privileged to spend a couple of Days with Dan and his family at their home in Franklin, TN. Our time there was extremely beneficial, and truly a delight. Dan has a tremendous gift of encouraging and inspiring people to DO what God created them to do. I know you will enjoy this interview.
Dan Miller’s Bio:
Dan Miller, President of 48 Days LLC, specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes that meaningful work blends our natural skills and abilities, our unique personality traits and our dreams and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be. Dan is the author of the New York Times best-selling 48 Days To The Work You Love, No More Dreaded Mondays and Wisdom Meets Passion. He has been a guest on CBS’ ‘The Early Show,’ MSNBC’s ‘Hardball with Chris Mathews,’Moody MidDay Connection, and the Dave Ramsey Show. Dan has spoken at the White House Christian Fellowship, and is in high demand at national conferences speaking on aging and changes in the workplace as well as at universities and churches. Over 130,000 people have subscribed to his weekly newsletter, his 48 Days Podcast consistently ranks in the top 3 under Careers on iTunes, and the 48Days.net business community is viewed as an example around the world for those seeking to find – or create – work they love. Committed to personal priorities, Dan and his wife Joanne are approaching their 45th anniversary and have 3 world-changing children and 12 amazing grandchildren. What does it mean to be fully alive in your work? Many of us are not yet doing what God put us here to do. Dan looks at the changing work models and outlines a plan for integrating your dreams and your passions into your daily activities. If you’ve ever buried your dreams in an attempt to be “practical” or “realistic,” Dan will show you how embracing those very dreams is the most practical way to enjoy life and achieve the success you’re looking for.
In this episode, we continue talking about your DREAMS. I recently conducted a seminar in which we focused a great deal on truly engaging the passions, dreams, and desires that God has put in one’s heart. Your destiny is tied directly to your dreams; your dreams originate with God; your success is totally depended on you fulfilling those dreams. As you embark on a New Beginning, let’s Discover, Engage, and Live Your Dreams!
Spiritual Principle
Ephesians 3:20 (TLB)
20 Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Joel 2:28 (NASB)
28 “It will come about after this, That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.
WHAT IS A DREAM?
Dream – a condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration. (www.dictionary.com).
“A dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.” – John Maxwell
A number of years ago, Pastor Tommy Barnett wrote an article for Ministry Today magazine that spoke to this subject so well. I referenced this article at length in this podcast. The full article can be found HERE
- There is a dream inside of you that longs to be awakened. There is something that God Himself has seeded in your heart that is significant and will change your and others lives forever.
- What Dream have you dreamed?
- What dreams are God calling awake in you today?
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
- Starting a Business
- Writing a book
- Singing
- Acting
- Ministry
- Job
- Travel
- Foundation
- TV Show
- Invention
- Other?
Homework
- Take time and write down what is coming to you mind and heart right now
- What do you feel the Father is awakening in you?
- Name the dream
- Make a list
- Be specific
- Describe it in details
- Write it, draw it, etc.
NEXT WEEK:
Next week my guest will be New York Times best-selling author, Dan Miller. We will be talking about finding your lane, doing what you love to do, and engaging in what God has created YOU to do. Dan is truly an expert in this area, and a gift to so many people around the world.
Over the past several weeks, we have been sharing with you concepts about New Beginnings. This includes dealing with past hurts and disappointments, awakening dormant dreams, and becoming active in pursuing the NEW things God desires to bring us into. On this episode, I want to tell you that Nothing Changes Until Something Changes.
The truth is, what once moved you forward is now holding you back. What once set you free is now locking you in. What enabled you to get ‘here’ cannot take you there. – Unknown
Scriptural Principles
Proverbs 29:18
18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Habakkuk 2:1-3
2 I will stand on my guard post, And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, And how I may reply when I am reproved. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. 3 “For the vision is for the appointed time; It (VISION) hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
As we enter fully into a new season (and a new year), it is imperative that we understand that …
“Nothing changes until something changes”
The fact is that we can dislike or be discontent with something, want desperately to experience something different so that we could feel different, YET … NEVER ever do that which is necessary to CHANGE the very situation that we are unhappy with.
One of the most debilitating beliefs in Christianity is that we once we’re saved, everything from that point on is going to happen outside of our control and will, and by osmosis, that which God has in mind for our lives is going to just show up and happen.
The truth is that God has a plan, but WE are expected by our heavenly Father to DO what is necessary for that plan to become a reality. You will never receive a degree, skill set, or education by supernatural download. You will never earn more income or create more wealth by simply praying for God to bless you. You ARE blessed, but a blessed man obtains wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, and executes. You see, God is a responsible Father, and He will not give you MORE, when you have yet to learn how to steward the little. We want Him to save us from our crisis, which was caused by our disobedience, which emanated from a lack of faith, without which no man can please God. This is NOT how following Him works.
- We follow … He leads
- He speaks … we answer
- He directs … we follow directions
- He corrects … we receive instruction
If you do not take intentional action for your future, nothing will change. 1 year from right now, your life will look exactly as it does today. Think about it (spiritually, financially, ministry, education, career, business, marriage, family, etc.)
Questions:
What has God spoken to you concerning your future?
What dreams has He placed in your heart?
What has He instructed you to DO that you have not yet done?
Are there any areas where you have disobeyed Him, ignored His calling, avoided the path?
What is He waiting on you to complete so that He can grant you access to something new?
What is God saying to you … TODAY?
What will you DO differently in 2014?
Great dreams are realized when real people are willing to change themselves, and put in the necessary work to see the dream manifest
If you’d like to COMMENT ON THIS EPISODE, please go to BrianHolmes.com/025, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you— comment, question, or whatever.
At the onset of every ‘New Beginning‘, there is the realization that in order to have what you’ve never had, you have to di what you’ve never done. In order to do things you’ve never done before, it often requires us to face fears that in the past, we have not been willing to do. On this episode, I want to talk to you about THREE KINDS OF FEAR THAT YOU MUST OVERCOME if you want to experience the full measure of the New Beginning God desires to bring to your life.
Scriptural Principle
2 Timothy 1:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Philippians 4:12-14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
Definitions
Fear – (Merriam Webster)
- An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
- An instance of this emotion
- A state marked by this emotion
- Anxious concern
- Profound reverence and awe especially toward God
- Reason for alarm
Wikipedia – Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived threat which causes entities to quickly pull far away from it and usually hide. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. In short, fear is the ability to recognize danger leading to an urge to confront it or flee from it (also known as the fight-or-flight response) but in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) a freeze or paralysis response is possible.
Fear is frequently related to the specific behaviors of escape and avoidance, whereas anxiety is the result of threats, which are perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable. It is worth noting that fear almost always relates to future events, such as worsening of a situation, or continuation of a situation that is unacceptable. Fear can be a manipulating and controlling factor in an individual’s life.
With these definitions as a backdrop, let us look at THREE categories of fear that so often causes us to limit the work of God in our lives
- Fear of Man
Throughout World History, the fear of man has been seen in action. Nations have risen and fallen on the basis of this fear, or the ability to move beyond it. This fear is a very real thing; one that has empowered some, and paralyzed others. This fear (like all fear) is the antithesis of faith; it is the cancelling agent of faith.
The fear of man comes in many forms, and is one of the most dominant of the fears
- The opinions of others
- More concerned with what people think (or may think) about you than what God has SAID about you
- Perceived status or lack thereof
- If I don’t hold a certain rank, position, or title, I will not have the respect of men. We exaggerate our resume to impress men, rather than walk confidently in who we really are
- Loss of approval
- If I DO what I know to do, and follow the direction God is leading, my boss, my family, my friends may not agree, and I may lose my approval. Men seek approval, and often times do so to the detriment of their own soul
- Loss of love
- I’ll just keep the peace. I will do what I have to because I do not want to lose the love and acceptance of people
- Performance/reward (am I good enough to impress)
- I do and do and do to impress. I stress myself out to perform up to someone’s expectation so I can maintain my status with them (love, approval, acceptance)
- Fear of enemies or opposition (go along to get along)
- Many times we tolerate unrighteousness and injustice out of fear of reprisal. We do what we do not out of a motivation to succeed, but out of fear of consequence and punishment if we do not do it ‘right’
- We are conditioned to avoid conflict; YET, the Bible tells us that we are engaged in warfare that is not of this world. Satan uses MEN to intimidate, oppose, and even undermine the intentions of God in our lives.We must look beyond the MAN, and see the God who has assured us the victory
- Fear of rejection
- So many have experienced the sting of rejection. From parents, friends, pastors, spouses or other love interests. Once you have experienced this, we tend to live our lives in defense mode. We become isolated and alone, and this was never God’s intent. Jesus was despised AND rejected for our sake, so we would not have to live in fear of it
- Fear of job loss/financial ruin
- This is a fear of man, in that we actually believe that MAN is our provider. We walk on eggshells in fear of getting fired, getting laid off, having our benefits decreased, having our pay scale decreased. This is a mammon spirit that causes us to fear men.
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People pleasing vs. God pleasing
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Fear of Risk/Failure
Dreams are realized ONLY when we act upon them. Destinies are revealed and potential is manifest ONLY when we take what is possible, and actually MAKE IT so. Success and fulfillment ONLY comes to those who are willing to risk the present for the sake of a better future. The best things in life come to those who look risk and even failure in the eye, and DO IT anyway. Faith without works is DEAD
2 Timothy tells us that God has NOT given us the spirit of fear.
Fear is a spirit that is released and utilized by our enemy to paralyze us … to cause us to be unable to ACT on God’s Word. When our promise or destiny is directly in front of us, whether or not we possess it and experience the benefits of it are completely contingent upon our willingness and ability to look FEAR dead on, and go in anyway. Fear does not take into account the sovereignty of God. Fear will talk you out of the very thing you long for.
Fear of risk and failure will cheat you out of the joy and success of what COULD BE; and lock you into the WHAT IS. Subjecting yourself to fear of failure or fear of risk will lock you into the present, and keep you from having what God has determined in His own mind he wants you to have
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Self-preservation is almost always the product of FEAR
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One of the ways we limit God is by allowing (and I do mean allowing) the fear of RISK and the fear of FAILURE to paralyze us, and rob us of our potential
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Potential is just that … potential. It has no power unless someone acts on it, and causes it to become a reality
Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins. – Charles Stanley
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“Pitiful is the person who is afraid of taking risks. Perhaps this person will never be disappointed or disillusioned; perhaps she won’t suffer the way people do when they have a dream to follow. But when that person looks back – and at some point everyone looks back – she will hear her heart saying, “What have you done with the miracles that God planted in your days? What have you done with the talents God bestowed on you? You buried yourself in a cave because you were fearful of losing those talents. So this is your heritage; the certainty that you wasted your life.” – Paulo Coelho
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“If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” – Ray Bradbury
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Questions:
- What fears have you been contending with, possibly for years?
- Are you ready to face those, push in, and press beyond those fears to accomplish your destiny?
- Will 2014 be your year of breakthrough?
If God said you can, you can … in spite of the obstacles.
Philippians 4:12-14 (NASB)
3 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Every person has the capacity to DREAM, and to see their dream become a reality. In fact, I believe that God Himself puts these dreams and desires in our hearts, and that they are actually there to serve our greater purpose and destiny.
I dreamed about flying throughout my childhood. I was obsessed with aviation, and knew that one day I would fly. There was a season in my life, however, where I lost sight of the dream. Life had muddied the waters, and I could not see that the dream would ever materialize.
- Have you ever dreamed about something really BIG?
- Is there a passion or desire that you gave up on long ago?
- Have you put your dreams and ideas on the shelf, and given up hope of ever seeing those become your reality?
God longs to give you the desires of your heart, BUT, you have to re-visit those desires and passions, and Awaken the Dreams Within!
In this episode, we look at 5 Things You Can Do To AWAKEN Your DREAMS!
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Spiritual Principle
Psalm 37:3-4
3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Isaiah 55:10-11
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
We are talking about new beginnings. One of the components of experiencing a New Beginning is getting in touch with the deeply embedded (and often forgotten) dreams we have in our heart. You might say, well Brian, I don’t really have any dreams. Well, I strongly believe that every one of us have dreams; every one of us have desires that have been in our hearts, sometimes for many years. These dreams might be to own a certain type of vehicle. It might be to fly an airplane or build and business. Your dream might be to write a book; act on Broadway, to sing on a big stage, or record your own album.
The challenge for most of us is that somewhere along the way, our dreams get coved up by life. Bad things happen; someone tells us to get our head out of the clouds; we experience a great failure or trauma … OR, somehow we just don’t believe we are worthy of such a dream, we’re not capable, not smart enough, etc.
Whatever the case, our dreams get squelched, squashed, covered over by the muck and mire that life brings. After a while, we just dismiss the possibilities, and accept life as it has been given to us. We settle for average and ordinary. We decide to be content with LESS THAN what God has determined HE wants for our life.
- WHERE DO DREAMS COME FROM?
- WHERE DO THESE INHERENT DESIRES ORIGINATE?
- WHY DO WE HAVE PASSIONS AND INTERESTS IN CERTAIN AREAS AND NOT IN OTHERS?
- WHERE DID THAT IDEA COME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Well I believe they come from God Himself. You see, we believe that every human being is born with a purpose, a calling, an assignment. Your life has meaning, but not random meaning. It has specific and purposeful meaning. Since this is true, it stands to reason that the creator would actually drop thoughts, ideas, desires, and dreams in your mind and heart that point you to that purpose.
You see, those dreams you have filed away are actually HIS dreams for you. They are the Father’s desire for your life, for your success, and for His ultimate purpose in you
5 Things You Can Do To AWAKEN Your DREAMS
- Identify your passions
- Revisit your old dreams
- Write them down: include great detail
- Create a DREAM/VISION board
- Pray over each dream daily, asking God to make His dreams alive in you again
Something you are dreaming about is someone else’s answer. Some idea you are carrying is the solution to a problem. Some desire you have in your heart will carry you places you never thought possible.
God Himself is vested in your dreams. They are, in fact, His dreams for your life
All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. – T. E. Lawrence
QUESTIONS
- What DREAMS have you long ago given up on?
- What desires and passions have you allowed to slip away?
- What do you sense God calling you to awaken within our heart?
If you’d like to COMMENT ON THIS EPISODE, please go to BrianHolmes.com/024, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you— comment, question, or whatever.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Over the next several weeks, I’m going to be sharing with you some concepts about New Beginnings. We’ll be talking about putting the past behind you; getting in touch with the dreams that are in your heart; how to confidently pursue the passions and interests that you have; how to set GOALS that matter and goals that are meaningful.
On this episode, I want to talk to you about embarking on a new and fresh journey. I want to encourage you to leave the past behind you, and to Embrace A New Season. You have an opportunity to experience all the benefits and blessings of a New Beginning. I want to share with you from my heart how you can do just that.
Spiritual Principle
Philippians 3:12-16
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Isaiah 43:18-19
18 “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. 19 “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?
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For two years, God has been leading me on a journey of discovery, relationship, ad trust. He has been teaching me to listen, to follow to rely on His wisdom and leadership. In the process, I’ve realized that so many THINGS I am doing; so many things that I have believed; so many positions that I have defended for years have become antiquated, out of date, no longer useful, and stale. Old experiences; old information; old ways of doing things; old paradigms; old thinking; old formulas; old stories
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I am thankful for my past, but I cannot allow my past to become my present or my future
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I cannot rely on my yesterdays if I am to possess my tomorrows
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I cannot live in the past, if I desire to create a future
Every NEW YEAR, people tend to make resolutions, set goals, and talk about what they would LIKE to accomplish, BUT, so few ever seem to connect the WHY to the WHAT. So few really ever make the necessary changes internally and externally that truly causes progress and forward movement. Wy is that? It is my contention that while many TALK about moving forward, most are unwittingly stuck in the past.
As we come into 2014, wouldn’t you like to know how to experience a new beginning? Would you like to put the past behind you once and for all? Would you like to experience the FRESHNESS and the life that comes in a new season?
EVERY PERSON CAN EXPERIENCE AND REALIZE THE BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS OF A NEW BEGINNING
For 2014, in this New Year that we are embarking on, I want to encourage you to take the following steps:
- Embrace the possibilities (the Word of God about you)
- Close out old accounts
- Forget the past
- Re-visit your dreams
- Change Your Thinking
- Align Yourself with like-minded people
- Develop, Write, and Execute The Vision
Another year is swiftly coming to an end. We are all busy about the business of Christmas, and thinking of turkey and dressing, honey baked hams, pumpkin pies, chocolate pies, parades, shopping, and big family gatherings. On this episode, I want to do something a little different. I want us to pause, consider WHY we celebrate this season, and look at God’s blessings, His Promises, and Our Future as he sees it.
Spiritual Principle
Luke 2:1-20
This is a timeless story. This is the REASON why we celebrate this time of the year. While the world has evolved, and the STORY has become less of a focus in so many places; it is still the greatest story ever told. On this program, we talk much and often about strategic living, about purpose, about becoming all that God has created you to be, YET …
If not for God Himself coming to earth as a man, wrapping Himself in flesh, accepting His assignment, and redeeming mankind back to His original intent, you and I would have nothing to talk about. It is HIS coming that provided us the opportunities. It is His willingness to become one of us, give His life for ours, take upon Himself all the sin, all the shame, all the failures of mankind that gives us the means to succeed. You see, it is important that we talk time to remember; it is imperative that we consider the REASON why we can pursue our dreams, our hopes; it is important that we recognize the source from which comes all of our meaningful ideas and contributions.
Life has a way of consuming us; completely and totally overwhelming us and demanding our attention. Work, kids, school, the economy, wars, killing, tragedy, threats, politics, the news media, ALL vying for our attention. There never seems to be a moment to stop, think, reflect, or in any way, get a reprieve from the hustle and bustle, the noise, and the rat-race that LIFE has become. Last year, we visited NYC, and I noticed (again), that people become so accustomed to noise, and hustle, and life, that they become blind and deaf to everything around them.
I can personally vouch for this, because over the last three years, I have taken some time (intentionally), just to get away, unplug, and PAUSE. In every case, it took me several days before all the clutter and noise subsided. We are so caught up in what has become so ‘normal’ to us, that we don’t realize how un-normal it really is. Each time I have taken the time to ‘PAUSE’, I was amazed at how much more of God’s creation I became aware of. Taking the time to notice the beauty in the clouds, in tree s, flowers, animals, a river, and ocean. I noticed how PEACE was always present with me, but I could not see it, feel it, or know it, because it had become shrouded in all the distractions of life. I noticed how CLOSE Father really was, but I could not be intimate with Him because my attention, and even my affections were given to other things. I noticed that God was always speaking, but I could not HEAR Him, because of all the NOISE. The answers I was so desperately seeking, He was trying to get through to me, but it would require me to PAUSE and listen.
There is BEAUTY everywhere, but can you see it?
There are blessings abounding, but are you too busy to notice?
Your heavenly Father is speaking, leading, directing you, but are you aware?
The answers you seek are already with you, but can you hear His still small voice amidst all the NOISE?
The Bible says … “Be STILL and know that I Am God”. You see, we don’t need a bigger God, we simply need to PAUSE, take the time to focus on Him, and in the intentional stillness, we will find HIM. What would life be like if we made the PAUSE a part of our daily discipline? What would our relationship with Father be if we would take the time to see, hear, and know Him?
My Christmas encouragement to you is …. PAUSE. My heart for us as we focus on Him, is that we would know Him, experience Him, feel Him, hear Him; see Him. Some time this week, take the time just to get still, clear the clutter, slow down for just a few minutes and … BE STILL AND KNOW
No matter what 2013 has been like for you; know this …
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His plans for your life are sure
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You have a hope
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You have a future
He has you in the palm of his hands!
It is an honor for me to introduce you to my dear friend and colleague, Ray Edwards. I have been following Ray and his work for over 18 months, and have come to not only respect him as a business leader, but truly honor him as a man of God. Ray and I met recently at the Platform Conference, and we both knew immediately that our meeting was a divinely inspired connection. As we shared our hearts with one another, it became clear that we had much in common. I count it a great privilege to call him a friend and a brother.
I am sure this will be the first of many programs we do with Ray, and I know that this episode will impact you greatly as you move into God’s destiny and assignment for your life. I trust you will enjoy this interview.
Ray Edward’s Bio:
Ray is probably best known as a Direct Response Copywriter, Product Launch Manager, Internet Marketing Strategist and conference speaker. Campaigns he’s written and/or directed have resulted in an estimated $100 million in sales.
He’s had the good fortune to working with (and learning from) some stellar clients, including New York Times Best-selling authors Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul), Joel Comm (author of Twitter Power and The Adsense Code), Raymond Aaron (author of Double Your Income Doing What You Love) as well as Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Jeff Walker, and many others.
Ray speaks frequently at seminars on copywriting, promotions and marketing, for professionals in those fields.
For more information about Ray’s work, please visit his website at
www.RayEdwards.com
- Are you happy with the results you’ve experienced in 2013?
- Did you accomplish the goals you set this time last year?
- Are you satisfied with the relationships you have in your life?
- Do you feel like you just can’t escape the past?
- Are you ready for a fresh start? A RE-BOOT?
- Can you see the future that God sees for you?
On this episode, we will be talking about Preparing for the New Year: ‘5 Steps You Can Take To Ensure A Great New Beginning’
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Spiritual Principle
Jeremiah 29:11 (NET)
11 For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.
Another year has come and gone. It is at this time every year that we reflect, ponder our present state, and for many, we look forward to what lies ahead. Time is really a continuum, and a date on the calendar doesn’t really constitute some magical do-over opportunity, but, around the world, people consider a ‘new year’ a threshold; a starting place; another chance; a new beginning. As we approach another new year, we all dream of experiencing greater blessing, prosperity, goals reached, etc. The problem with dreaming is that if all we do is dream, nothing really changes.
“Nothing changes unless something changes” – Brian Holmes
How you leave one place or season is how you enter the next. If we want to see a different 2014, we must look at what got us here. If we want to see a more prosperous and successful new year, we will need to assess, address, and make necessary changes in order to see progress.
So, how do we prepare for a NEW BEGINNING? How do we enter the new place?
5 Steps You Can Take To Ensure A Great New Beginning
I want to propose a 5 Step Process that will give you a jump start on your new year. It is a process designed to help you re-boot; start over; begin again; but this time, with more clarity and more purpose. Let’s look at it together …
Step #1 Let Go Of The Past
- Past failures and mistakes
- Past hurts
- Past relationships that no longer serve your desired future
- Not everyone can go with you into your next season
Step #2 Examine Your Heart
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23:7 that, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he …”. The principle here is that what I believe to be true about my life, my worth, my money, my future, is exactly what will manifest in my life. So at the very core of the equation is, “What are my present thoughts and beliefs about my life and future?” Is my mind working for me, or against me? Does my heart agree with my head? Many people believe that they can confess their way to the realization of their dreams and goals. In fact, confession or affirmation is vital to the equation, but is incomplete if one’s heart doesn’t really believe what the mouth is affirming.
It is important to confess with your mouth, but it is imperative that you believe with your heart! If your heart is not in agreement with your words (or if you do not really believe on the inside what you are projecting on the outside), it is a fruitless exercise, and will create frustration and disappointment. So, I must examine my heart.
- Are there thoughts or beliefs held there that are toxic to my faith?
- Do I have unforgiveness or bitterness there that is affecting my productivity?
- Do I have limiting beliefs or limited vision that is actively working against what I truly desire for my life?
Step #3 Know Thyself – Set Your Expectations
Most people never invest time in discovering who they really are, or in identifying what it is they really want in life. I firmly believe that every human being is created by God with a destiny and purpose that has already been determined. In other words, God made me with an end in mind. In order for me to tap into the potential and greatness that He sees in me, I must align my mind and my heart with His plan and His will for my life. This involves the process of self-discovery. In this process, we seek to find answers to questions such as:
- Who Am I?
- What do I value?
- What are my passions?
- What is my assignment and purpose?
- What do I want?
- What are my dreams?
- What are my goals?
- What is it that I want to accomplish?
Once you have answered these questions, then, and only then, will you have a clear compass or direction for your future. If necessary, hire a Life Coach who can assist you in discovering, identifying, and clarifying these important components.
Step #4 Develop A Strategic Plan
Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”.
The truth is that even though we all ‘want’ better results, and we desire to see our future improve, we often are stuck in the quagmire of old habits and behavioral patterns that limit us to the same outcomes we’ve always experienced. We have to take action, but not just any action. We have to take strategic action; action that will move us toward our stated goals and dreams. How do we do this?
- Write down your goals … BE SPECIFIC
- Break them down into long term, short term, and immediate action steps
- Identify the resources you have available to you now
- Identify the resources you do NOT have available to you
- Identify the necessary steps you will have to take to acquire those resources
- Plan your weekly action steps
- Plan you daily action steps
Step #5 START!
Before you can be great, you have to be good; before you can be good, you have to be so-so; before you can be so-so, you have to be pretty bad; before you can be bad, you gotta just do something!
So many people I know are waiting for God to show up, and miraculously make something happen. Others are waiting for fate or good fortune. Some are waiting for their ship to roll in, and others are just waiting.
In the of faith and religion, many profess a faith that God is going to bless them, prosper them, or release a miracle. While I believe with deep conviction in a God who loves us, and is a blesser of His children, I also believe what His Word says … “Faith without works is dead …” You see, I must put action with my faith. I must believe what God believes about me, and then act in accordance with that belief.
In 2014, I encourage you to come off the sidelines and engage this wonderful game we call life. God has PLANS for you; He has blessed, and He has given you His promises, but YOU must now put action to your faith so that you can know the success and joy He has designated for your life.
REVIEW:
- Let go of the past
- Examine Your Heart
- Know Thyself – Set Your Expectations
- Develop a Strategic Plan
- START
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
Purpose in your heart today …
- You will not go in to 2014 carrying the weights of the past
- You will not go in carrying unforgiveness, bitterness, or frustration
- You WILL go in knowing that God has great plans for your life; plans for your success, your happiness, your prosperity, and a marvelous future
- You WILL go in knowing who you are; what you want; with clear dreams, and with a clear plan
- You WILL engage your calling and your purpose, and you WILL DO the work necessary to se those dreams come to pass
- How often do you take time to consider the blessings in your life?
- Are you a chronic complainer? Is the glass always half-empty?
- How often do you express your gratefulness for others, or even TO others?
- Do you have an attitude of gratitude?
On this episode, we will be talking about Developing An Attitude of Thankfulness
Spiritual Principle
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. The LORD performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. ~ Psalm 103:1-13
When one travels abroad, you get a perspective on things that is very different that what you are accustomed to. You realize we have slipped into a mindset that is far from grateful. It seems we have developed in our American culture a non-thankful attitude towards so many areas of life. We are quick to complain, but slow to show gratitude. We fuss over insignificant things, and rarely take the time to appreciate the simple things. We tend to take for granted so many of God’s blessings, and our hearts most often are focused on negativity, rather than the good in someone or something.
Today, I want to lead you by example, and in some way (I pray), inspire your heart to be turned towards THANKSGIVING.
David’s Heart of Thankfulness
In Psalm 103, David gives us a wonderful track to run on, as there are specific things for which he expresses his thankfulness.
David says …
- I am thankful FIRST to God, because He is God
- He is the One who CREATED me
- He is the one who leads me
- I am HIS possession (the sheep of His pasture
- He loves me
- He is ever faithful towards me
- He pardons all my iniquities
- Heals all my diseases
- Redeems me from the pit
- Crowns me with loving-kindness and compassion
- Satisfies my years with good things
- My youth is renewed like the eagle
- He performs righteous deeds and judgments on my behalf
- He is compassionate towards me
- He is gracious towards me
- He is slow to anger, and abounds in love
My Personal Thanksgiving:
- My relationship with God
- My wife, Sabrina – She is my friend, my lover, and my partner for life
- Great relationships with my children
- Christian – His heart; his love for God; his leadership; and his compassion
- Abigail – Her heart for God; my worshiper; her sensitivity to other’s needs; my baby girl
- My mom – I am so thankful that she is still with me, and that we have become closer than ever before
- George and Sadie (my in-laws) – They are sweet, compassionate, giving, and supportive. It is an honor to serve them in this season
- Timothy (my brother-in-law) – He is a gentle giant, hard working, loves God, a friend to Sabrina, and loyal.
- Bishop Tudor and Pastor ChiChi Bismark – Where would I be if not for this relationship.
- My pastor, Dr. Richard Heard – He is a friend, a father, a mentor coach.
- My CIWC Family – For 11 years, we have served a wonderful group of people. I am thankful for each one of them
- Old friends – Swindle’s, Blantons, Harris’s, Garcias, Dan Dean, Andrade’s, and so many others.
- Mentors and Friends: John Coon, Bishop G, Mike Massa, etc.
- Great Working Relationships – Leona, Hannah, Matthew, Shuronda, and more
- New Relationships – Cliff Ravenscraft, Ray Edwards, Michael Hyatt, John Morgan, Ken Davis, Michelle Cushatt, etc.
- Health, quality, and longevity of life
- Financial blessing and provision
- A beautiful home that is a sanctuary from the busy-ness of life
- My new car – A great car, immaculate condition, no debt
- Influence and Favor – Romania, Africa, churches, etc.
- A new and growing platform that God is helping to build
- A sharp mind, the gift of counsel and wisdom, and creative problem solving abilities
- Opportunities and desire to learn: SCORRE, Platform, Launch, Dan Miller, Books, Programs, etc.
- My passions, personality, propensity to dream, and my drive
- The gift of flying, and a fleet of purposeful aircraft.
- I am thankful that my success and fulfilling God’s plan on my life is not dependent on anyone or anything except Me
- MY CHALLENGE TO YOU:
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- This week, take a few minutes each day to consider what you are thankful for
- Write it down on a list or in a journal
- If you are thankful for a person, tell them. Write them a card, and E-Mail, or call them and let them know
- Read these each day (outloud) during thanksgiving week
- Thank God each day for the things you are grateful forShout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise; Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting; And His faithfulness to all generations. ~ Psalm 100
- Are you tired of settling for average and ordinary?
- Are you frustrated with the world around you, and wonder why SOMEBODY doesn’t stand up and make a difference?
- Are you waiting for someone outside of you to be the person who leads and bucks the system?
On this episode, we will be talking about Becoming A Leader Who Challenges The Status Quo; one that makes an intentional and significant difference in their world.
Today’s podcast is going to be a little different. In fact, there are several things that you will notice that might come across as a little different. I am going to be dealing with the subject of leadership. My intent is to challenge you; to call out some man, some woman to accept the challenge to LEAD their generation. I want to warn you. I may come across a little stronger than I normally do, because I want you to know that the life you are currently living is NOT all you can experience. The circumstances taking place in your personal world, and the world around you are the result of someone’s leadership … maybe not your own. You see, someone has determined that this is where you should be, and because we are all people pleasers in one way or another, we tend to GO ALONG to GET ALONG. Well I am here today to say that is not going to cut it anymore! It is my desire today to shake you up, and call you out.
The world in which we live is in desperate need of true leadership … transformational leadership.
- Governments are failing us.
- Religion has become void of relevance
- The education sector is in desperate need of real leaders.
- The business and financial world is looking for leadership
- More and more people are looking elsewhere for answers.
- Moral climates are being transformed by small groups of people
A handful of people are determining the future of nations, while the masses just follow along, not realizing that they are simply falling into line; settling for the status quo.
“Status quo, you know, is Latin for ‘the mess we’re in’.
– Ronald Reagan
The methods, the ideas, the philosophies that have brought us to this place will not serve us in this next season. While there are spiritual laws and principles that never change, the season we are in today requires a certain kind of leadership to challenges the norms, and leads a generation to a more fruitful and productive place.
“The significant problems we face cannot be solved on the same level we were on when we created the problem” – Albert Einstein
If you keep doing what you’re doing, you will keep getting the same results. If NOTHING CHANGES, NOTHING CHANGES. If we continue to simply maintain what we’ve been told is normal, we will continue to be relegated to the measure of results that someone else has defined for our lives. If the blind lead the blind, we all fall in the ditch
Right now we are faced with the choice of a lifetime.
- Continue to follow the masses, and be content to live in mediocrity and settle for something LESS than what God intended, OR,
- Answer the call, and be the leader that creates the change we desire.
How do we do this? How does one become a leader who challenges the status quo?
Every person has the capacity to become a leader that challenges the status quo and makes a significant difference in their world by following these 5 Simple Steps.
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Decide – Decide that average and ordinary is no longer acceptable to you
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Determine – Determine that YOU will BE the leader that challenges the status quo
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Describe – Describe the change you desire to see, in whatever area of influence you are called to
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Design – Design a plan and a strategy that is teachable and can be implemented NOW
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Do It – Lead by example; be out in front; get up from your seat of complacency and DO SOMETHING!
If you’re not the lead dog, the scenery never changes!
The whole earth is right now awaiting the revealing of the sons of God.
Will you answer the call?
Will you BE that leader?
Will you rise up, even in the face of criticism and persecution?
Will you take the challenge, and begin today to BE THE CHANGE
Will you be the one who refuses to settle for the status quo?
I believe you can!
I believe you will!
I believe we must … become leaders who challenge the status quo!
Next Week:
Next week, I will be talking about, ‘Developing An Attitude of Thankfulness’. Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show.
On this episode, we will be talking about ‘Successfully Navigating Seasons of Change’.
- Are you satisfied with where you are in your life today?
- Does the idea of CHANGE frighten you?
- Are you aware that your life has seasons, and that new seasons require us to make necessary change to enjoy the season?
Well, today, I want to share with you ’12 Questions That Will Help You Navigate Seasons of Change’.
Scriptural Principle:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-9
3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
Intro:
There are few things are more constant than change. Everything in creation is in a state of change. All growth requires change. In fact, anything that is not changing is DYING. Our lives are always in a state of change, and if we are to enjoy the benefits that growth and new opportunities present, it is imperative hat we EMBRACE CHANGE.
There are four types of change
1. Change that happens around us 2. Change that happens to us 3. Change that happens in us 4. Change we make happen
Change is inevitable … what kind will you experience?
12 Questions
- What is God birthing in you?
- What is dying (or should be allowed to die)?
- What is He calling you to PLANT in this season, and WHERE?
- What needs to be uprooted in your life or field?
- What needs to be TORN DOWN, so something new can be built?
- What do you need to weep and mourn over, so that you can laugh and dance?
- What are you presently embracing (holding on to) that you need to let go of?
- Are you still looking/searching for something that you should have given up on long ago?
- What are you possessive of that needs to be discarded and thrown away?
- What are you stuck to that needs to be disconnected from you?
- Are you too busy talking/rationalizing that you can’t hear His voice?
- What are you in love with that you should be hating?
Next Week:
Next week, I will be talking about, ‘Becoming A Leader That Challenges The Status Quo’. Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show.
In this episode, we are talking about ‘Finding Your Voice‘, with my dear friend and colleague, Joel Boggess.
It is a privilege of mine to introduce you to my guest, Joel Boggess. Joel is a speaker, an author, and a Certified Coach, a counselor, and I’m proud to call him a friend. In this interview, we are talking about Joel’s brand new book, ‘Finding Your Voice‘, which is being released on November 5th, 2013.
Joel Boggess’ Bio:
Joel Boggess is an author, speaker and life coach, and has decades of real world experience helping others ‘Find Their Voice’. Together with his wife, Pei, they are the founders of ‘Finding Your Voice Radio’, and the ‘Finding Your Voice Podcast’. Their goal is to inspire and empower people to get in touch with who they really are, so they can move confidently into the life and work they love.
Joel has a very successful coaching practice, and also holds a Masters Degree in counseling. These qualifications, along with years of experience helping people make them a formidable team.
What Others Say About Joel:
Joel is strategic, straightforward, yet compassionate. His clients are consistently moved toward higher levels of personal success and fulfillment. – Dan Miller
Joel sensitively shows you you and ends all self-sabotage by removing restraints. He will help you unshackle your potential not only effectively but just as importantly, non-threateningly. – Rabbi Daniel Lapin
For more information on Joel or Pei’s work, or to schedule him to speak at your next event, visit their website at FindingYourVoice.com
In Finding Your Voice, life coach and motivational speaker Joel Boggess empowers you to live an authentic and more meaningful life. Using his own story of trauma, tragedy and triumph, he demonstrates that although your past plays into your present it doesn’t have to determine your destiny. In addition to his own experience, Joel offers a number of real-life accounts of the growth and success his clients have experienced. These examples bring to life the truths Boggess offers. Highly relatable and immediately applicable, Finding Your Voice will help you get back in touch with the real you and live your best possible life.
From Finding Your Voice, you will learn: Who you really are, what excites you, and what you stand for. How to use past hurts to help and encourage others. How to discover your passion when life seems passion-less. How to identify and rid yourself of beliefs that may be stifling your voice and success. Why having a vision for your future is essential and how to create one and make it a reality.
With a master’s degree in Counseling and almost seven years of experience as a life and career coach, Boggess has the education, life experience and wisdom to help you tune into and fully express your unique voice.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
- What does it mean to BE WHOLE?
- How does one know if they are somehow fragmented or broken?
- What are the signs or indicators that some area of our life needs attention or healing?
On this episode, we will be talking about ‘7 Steps That Lead To Personal Wholeness’.
Scriptural Principle:
I Thes. 5.23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction:
‘Wholeness’ speaks to a STATE of being whole. Being whole is to be complete … nothing missing; nothing broken; all things together and working as they were designed; all the pieces in their place; all parts working at 100%. We were created by God to achieve; to accomplish; to create; to contribute; to be happy; to be fulfilled.
How Does It All Work?
We are three parts:
- Spirit: Represents HEADSHIP or leadership in the individual life
- SOUL: The will, emotions, thoughts/mind, memories, wounds, beliefs, etc.
- Body: The physical body; it’s health and wellness; appetites and cravings; actions and outcomes
Unresolved Issues That Prohibit Whole Living
Spiritually
- No relationship with God
- Disconnected from spiritual roots
- Spiritual abuse or issues with church experience
- Angry with God over loss
- Curses
- Etc
Soul
- Memories
- Divorce Parents
- Emotional Wounds
- Trauma
- Failures
- Low self-esteem
- Depression
- Limiting beliefs (EPISODES 12-13)
- Soul Ties
Body
- Overweight
- Disease
- Tired/Fatigue
- Headaches
- Other Health Issues
These and other issues perpetuate UNHEALTHY living and prohibit us from living a WHOLE life. In order to BE WHOLE, I must be willing to address areas in my life that need attention, and CHANGE whatever must be changed to see improvement and progress
7 Steps You Can Take That Lead to Personal Wholeness:
1. Build on the right foundation –
- Invite Jesus Christ to truly be the Lord of your life; this is the foundation to wholeness
- He has redeemed you to Himself
- His healing and grace is available to you
- All you have to do is receive it
- He will provide the strength you need to become WHOLE
2. Take an Honest Look
- Are you happy with your life as it is?
- Do you believe that there is MORE for you than what you are currently experiencing?
- Are you willing to acknowledge and confront your own ‘stuff’ in order to see real and lasting change take place?
- “You cannot change what you are not willing to acknowledge” – Dr. Phil McGraw
3. Make A Decision For Change
- Nothing changes until something changes
- Identify the changes you desire to SEE
- What will it take to create those changes
- DECIDE – : to make a choice about (something) : to choose (something) after thinking about it; to choose whether or not to believe (something) after thinking about it : to reach a conclusion about (something) because of evidence; to cause (something) to end in a particular way : to determine what the result of (something) will be
4. Examine Your Heart
- Where were you hurt?
- By whom?
- Is there unforgiveness in your heart?
- Are you toxic?
- What limiting beliefs have you adopted?
- What tragedy or loss did you experience?
- Who disappointed you?
- Who abandoned you?
- What leader let you down?
- Etc.
5. Open Your Heart
- Sometimes we have stuffed things away so deeply that we are afraid to open our hearts
- Open your heart to new relationships
- Open your heart to trust again
- Open your heart and allow people to be close again
6. Do The Work
- Be willing to seek out help
- Be willing to confess (then you can be healed)
- Be willing to feel the pain for a moment
- Be willing to grieve if necessary
- Be willing to forgive
- Be willing to fight for your future
7. Be Accountable
- Share what you are working on with a friend, family member, pastor, or mentor
- Hire a Life Coach or Counselor
- Be willing to be accountable
NEXT WEEK
Next week, I will be talking about, ‘Finding Your Voice’ with my great friend Joel Boggess.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show.
- What is success, really?
- How does one know when they have become successful?
- Is success for everyone, or just a select few?
- Is it measured by money, fame, status, how many people follow you on Facebook, Twitter, etc.?
On this episode, we are going to look at these and other questions about SUCCESS.
Scriptural Principle:
Matthew 16:25-27
25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Joshua 1:8 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
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Success – a word that is often misunderstood; a state that few ever arrive at; a reality that few ever experience. Many strive for it, but few ever find it. Many think they know what it is, but when the get to the end, they realize that what they thought was success did not bring them joy, fulfillment, or happiness.
The dictionary defines success as:
- The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors
- The attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like
- A successful performance or achievement
- A person or thing that is successful
I suppose that any of these could be true, however, I have come to believe that success means something different to every person. To one person, driving a certain kind of car could mean the attainment of success. To another, performing on Broadway might constitute success. To yet another, starting a company, building a business, or the creation of wealth. My take is that success (or at least its meaning) can be rather subjective. For example, is Tiger Woods successful? I suppose if you measure success by his status in the golf world, his endorsements, or his annual salary … maybe he is. Is General Petraus successful? I guess if you measure success by his rank, accomplishments, leadership ability, or his service to his country, maybe he is. Was Howard Hughes successful? I suppose if you measure success by wealth generation, aviation accomplishments, or business leadership, he was. What about the man or woman who has climbed the corporate ladder, is at the top of their game, or they have built a successful business. Their ‘job’ is what they live for, but the rest of their world is a mask, a ‘pretend’ projection with no real substance or health. What about the pastor or spiritual leader who has a big church, large television following, tons of speaking engagements? On the outside, it seems as though he really has it together. But often, his marriage is falling apart, his children are hurting and have followed a destructive path, his own addictions are eroding away at his soul. Success? I’m not really sure.
Please hear me, I am not judging or criticizing, because I too have a story. What I am saying is this … at the end of the day, what, really, is the meaning of success? Are we so driven to perform for someone else’s expectations or some culture’s prescribed demands that we sell our soul for what has been CALLED success, but is merely a prison?
Someone once said to me that you only need TWO things in life to be successful … Relationships and Resources. If you have to choose only one, or, if you must choose between these two, always choose relationships. Healthy and Godly relationships will always open the door to the resources one needs to be successful. Therefore, I believe that you can all the money and possessions in the world, and yet, if you have no meaningful relationships in your life, you are bankrupt and destitute. This is not to say that it is an either/or proposition. You can have both; but money and things without healthy and Godly relationships with which to share them is not success
Tiger Woods understands this. Forbes.com listed Tiger Woods 2009 income as $110 million. In November of that same year, however, the National Enquirer published an article about Tiger’s infidelity and apparent sex addiction, and Tiger’s world began to unravel. On the outside, one would judge that Tiger was the epitome of success, yet, on the inside his private life was in shambles, and without question, he was an angry, confused, and very miserable person. At the end of the day, Tiger lost many friends, hurt many people, and lost his wife and children, treasures more precious than any amount of money or fame. Success? Not really
So What is Success?
Let me begin by sharing with you some thoughts on success from some great thought leaders of history:
Winston Churchill: “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”
Deepak Chopra: “Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.”
Jim Rohn: “Success is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
Richard Branson: “It is the satisfaction of doing it for yourself and motivating others to work with you in bringing it about. It is about the fun, innovation, creativity with the rewards being far greater than purely financial.”
Orison Swett Marden: “When a man feels throbbing within him the power to do what he undertakes as well as it can possibly be done, this is happiness, this is success.”
Zig Ziglar: “Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.”
George Sheehan: “Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.”
Wilfred Peterson: “Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.”
Thomas Edison: “Success is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Woody Allen: “Seventy percent of success in life is showing up.”
Anonymous: “God gave us two ends: one to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one you use. Heads you win; tails, you lose.”
MY TAKE:
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Success begins with a relationship with the One who created you in His image; a real relationship with God
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Secondly, success requires that one comes to a clear and definitive image of who THEY are
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If a person is not clear on who God has called them to be, they will live their life trying to be something else
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Success depends on relationships; father, mother, spouse, children, mentor, coach, friend, pastor, etc.
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No man is an island unto himself
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Success is the realization of happiness and joy
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Success is a life whose purpose has been fulfilled
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Success is arriving at the end, and being more than satisfied with the journey and the result
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Success is leaving the world a better place than when you arrived
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Success is touching a life, and showing love to our fellow man
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Success is giving
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Success is leaving an inheritance for your children and your children’s children
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Success is being confortable in your own skin, and living life in a way that demonstrates your commitment to purpose
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Earl Nightingale shared a definition of success that I have chosen to adopt myself. He says that “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. If a man is working towards a predetermined goal and knows where he is going, that man is a success. If he’s not doing that, he’s a failure. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.”
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Success is the achievement of your God-given purpose and assignment
Ralph Waldo Emerson writes that Success is …
- To laugh often and much
- To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children
- To earn the approbation of honest critics, and endure the betrayal of false friends
- To appreciate beauty
- To find the best in others
- To give of one’s self
- To leave the world a bit better, whether by healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition
- To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation
- To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived
- This is the Meaning Of Success!
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NEXT WEEK
Next week, I will be talking about, ‘Wholeness: How To Be Healed, Transformed, and Restored’.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show.
In this episode, we are talking about ‘Your Beliefs Hold The Key: An Interview With Dr. Mark Chironna”.
It is an honor for me to introduce you to my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Mark Chironna. Dr. Chironna and I have been in relationship for more than 10 years, and I consider him to be a mentor to me in many aspects, not the least of which is related to his experience, education, and mastery in the area of ‘THE MIND’. In this podcast, we discuss a range of topics such as limiting beliefs, the way the mind works, how we think in metaphors, and how to begin to transform and renew the mind.
I am sure this will be the first of many programs we do with Dr. Chironna. I trust you will enjoy this interview.
Dr. Mark Chironna’s Bio:
Certified life coach, author, pastor, and spiritual director, Dr. Mark Chironna is a man uniquely gifted to bridge the realms of the intellectual and spiritual in dismantling emotional barriers and empowering lives. He is a prolific author whose frequent media appearances are well-received in faith-based and secular markets.
Recognized for his articulate and compelling approach to contemporary issues, Dr. Chironna is perhaps best known for his uncommon ability to foster and release the creativity and personal power of the individual. His authentic and compassionate approach to purposeful, destiny-infused living has transformed lives everywhere through one-on-one mentoring, speaking engagements, print and electronic media.
His degrees include a B.A. in Music and Education, an M. Div. in Theology, an M.A. in Psychology, a PhD in Theology, and is currently in the process of earning his PhD in Psychology.
For more information Dr. Chironna’s work or ministry, please visit his website at www.markchironna.com.
On this episode, we will be talking about ‘Challenging The Status Quo: 7 Steps To A Transformed Mind’. Someone once said, “people act in accordance with the ‘truth’ as they believe it to be”. You see, the beliefs that you hold to be true in your life literally govern the direction, the choices, the decisions, and the outcomes in your life. Whether you are successful or whether you fail depends entirely on your core, heart-level beliefs.
The mind is a very powerful force. It receives information in the conscious mind, but then compares the ‘new’ with what is already on the hard drive of the heart. Your experiences, your relationships, your hurts, you perceptions; they all contribute to the formation of your beliefs. How does one go about identifying limiting beliefs? How do we challenge, unseat, and even replace those beliefs with truth and life-giving faith? That is what we will explore in this episode.
Scriptural Principle
“As a man thinks within himself, so is he … – Proverbs 23:7
“Whatever the mind of man can conceive or believe, it can achieve” – Napolean Hill
God gave man a MIND; a mechanism and a process of thought He created within each of us the power to imagine or dream a thing. He gave us the power to create and to produce in time and space, the thoughts and ideas conjured and fostered in our minds. The HUMAN mind has the capacity to change the world. When that which is held in our mind does not meet our potential that we limit ourselves to a life that is less than God’s plan. It is what your heart believes that determines the direction and outcome of your life and situation. We actually move toward our most dominant PICTURE of how you see yourself and your future. The image or belief we hold in our mind concerning a thing, produces an outcome that resembles exactly what we believe, SO, I must CHANGE my thinking, my beliefs, and my image.
“The significant problems we face cannot be solved on the same level we were on when we created the problem” – Albert Einstein
FACT: You cannot rise above the plane of your mental conditioning. To change your life, you must change your mind. We are what we THINK, and we become what we continue to think.
Some Thoughts by Dr. Myles Munroe
• There is nothing more powerful than a thought or an idea, however, there is nothing more important than the SOURCE of our thoughts.
• Our thoughts are products of what we have heard or learned.
• How we deal with information, or how we process things in life is a result of what we believe, which is the result of a pattern of thoughts.
The Process of Thought:
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A source (good or bad) transmits its ideas through words and images
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Words and images transmit thoughts and ideas into our mind
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Thoughts (being seed), when conceived become ideas
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Ideas conceived become ideologies
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Ideologies conceived become beliefs
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Beliefs conceived become convictions
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Convictions conceived become philosophies
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Philosophies conceived become lifestyles
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Lifestyles determine the outcome of life, and ultimately our destinies
When your philosophy of life, beliefs, thoughts, and convictions are based on the way you were CREATED by God to THINK, you will naturally rule over you environment, and fulfill your purpose and destiny with joy. When these are based on erroneous thinking and attitudes, you will feel frustrated, trapped, and hopeless while constantly living life “on your heels” rather than moving ahead.
We act in accordance with the truth as we believe it to be, whether it is true or not!
Effects of Mindsets:
- A negative mindset causes a perpetual posture of DOUBT
- DOUBT creates HESITATION (or paralysis)
- HESITATION leads to failure
- Mindsets are what creates your expectations
- Your expectations are self-fulfilling prophecy
- What you EXPECT, you get
- A mindset LOCKS you into a realm, thereby limiting your level of result and achievement
The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking. – Albert Einstein
Challenging the Status Quo
The status quo is that which has become NORMAL; that from which we resist deviating; that standard or pattern to which we have been conformed; average; and a state whereby we maintain sanity
- Thoughts form beliefs
- Beliefs form our mindsets
- Our mindsets … SET us on a particular trajectory
- Our trajectory produces certain results or outcomes
- The outcomes we experience AFFIRM our beliefs
- The affirmed belief becomes our NORMAL
- What is NORMAL becomes and is the status quo
- To deviate from what is normal based on our truth is to create conflict
- We do not like conflict, therefore we create for ourselves something called … COMFORT ZONES
What is a Comfort Zone?
- A comfort zone is a limited area of perception and association wherein the individual or group can function effectively without experiencing uneasiness or fear; a limited defined physical or psychological area in which a person feels at ease; self-regulating mechanism; anxiety arousal control.
- In my terms, a comfort zone is an invisible bubble we create for ourselves for one of several reasons; we feel safe; we feel we belong there; we feel we deserve to be there, etc.
“Discomfort brings engagement and change. Discomfort means you’re doing something that others were unlikely to do, because they’re hiding out in the comfortable zone. When your uncomfortable actions lead to success, the organization rewards you and brings you back for more.” – Seth Godin
7 Steps To A Transformed Mind
- Ask questions:
a. What are my comfort zones? b. Which ones are keeping me safe? c. Which ones are holding me back? d. Which comfort zone areas do I need to expand in order to arrive at the fulfillment of what God has said concerning my life e. What mindsets or beliefs must be addressed to accomplish this?
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Identify faulty and limiting mindsets (Look at fruit)
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Take every thought captive (arrest, do not entertain)
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Control your SELF-TALK (don’t affirm limiting beliefs)
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Examine the Word of God; reflect and remember every ‘Word’ God has spoken to you or about you; Record every proclamation of truth about your identity, life, and future)
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Create summarized ‘affirmation’ or ‘confession’ statements that REPLACE limiting beliefs, and expand your comfort zone concerning that area of life – 1st Person; Present Tense
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Develop and engage the HABIT of reading/affirming/confessing these ‘I AM’ statements … every day … UNTIL
WRAP UP:
- As a man thinketh in his heart …
- Confession is great, believing is better (Confess and believe)
- Challenge the status quo
- Create a new normal
- Re-define what is acceptable and good enough
- SAY – I AM
- Change Your Mind … Change Your World
Resources Mentioned:
I have created two resources that provide you the information and instruction on how you can ‘Transform Your Mind’. In these series, I will teach you some of the following principles and skills:
- How To Identify Limiting Beliefs
- How To Redefine Your ‘Normal’
- How To Discover Truth … Real Truth
- How to Renew (or Reprogram) Your Mind
- How to Call Your Future Into Your Present
They are:
- The Battle For The Mind
- Transforming The Mind
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show.
On this episode, we will talking about ‘Understanding My Identity – Who Am I Really?’ Every one of us is born with a DESTINY – a pre-determined purpose, assignment, or identity. You are not a random entity that just showed up here. You have a name … I’m not talking about the one your parents gave you; I’m talking about the one your CREATOR gave you. You are made in His image and likeness. You ARE who He says you are!
Throughout the course of our days, things happen; life happens; people hurt us; we experience tragedy; and WHO we are becomes muddled and unclear. The internal picture of who we really are no longer has clarity or focus. When we experience enough pain and disappointment, we begin to believe that we are something altogether different from who God says we are
In this episode, I want to share with you some principles that I believe are paramount to our success
Genesis 1:26-30
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.
Our most basic identity and character is described here in Genesis 1. Our most foundational mandate and purpose is laid out here on the basis or WHO WE ARE, and WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSE TO ACT LIKE. At the very least, we see here that God intended for mankind to function in the earth from a position of POWER, DOMINION, AUTHORITY, VICTORY, and BLESSING
In no way can we see or justify in scripture a life that is bound, in poverty, emotionally tormented, unhappy, depressed, and living an unfulfilled or unsuccessful life. The bottom line here is, if we are living in any of these conditions or states, we have a problem; and the problem is IGNORANCE. The problem is, WE DON’T know or have a clear understanding of WHO we are, and WHAT we have.
“MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE”
The greatest enemy of man is his misconception of himself. Ignorance of self is the root of all of mans frustrations and at the heart of his dilemma. The foundation of the ultimate temptation was self deception, and the original sin was a result of self doubt. You see, the TRUTH about you is the key to your personal freedom. If you discover the truth about YOU (as God sees it) you become free of the lies that Satan has said about you. You become FREE to be WHO and WHAT God always intended you to be! You become FREE to live in the IMAGE and LIKENESS of the one who created you for His glory and His pleasure. You become free to FULFILL the complete and total destiny and calling; the one God always believed you to be
“You will know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you free.”
Satan’s greatest weapon against you is to maintain your ignorance of your IDENTITY. Man’s ignorance of his true identity, worth, purpose, value, is the heart of all his problems. When you don’t know WHO you are, you cannot be anybody else! Therefore, you flounder through life trying to be something without knowing how to be anything, and you never come to be the ONE THING that God intended you to be.
The PRICE OF IGNORANCE is to forfeit our divine destinies, only to be relegated to a dismal life, followed by an ordinary death
Proverbs 23:7
“For as he thinks within himself, so he is …”
Anything that opposes the Word of God that has been spoken concerning my life can only originate from one source…SATAN. It is then necessary that I REJECT lies, and EMBRACE truth.
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How does God see us?
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God sees us through the eyes of DESTINY
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He sees our lives exactly how He saw our lives before the foundation of the world
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He identifies with us ONLY on the basis of what and who He named us when he created us
Steps To Discovering Who You Really Are:
- Ask God to reveal your identity to you
- Identify the moments/places where the seed of self-doubt was introduced
- Identify the lies that were introduced to you in those moments/places … name them
- Discover and identify the TRUTH; create affirming statements that counter-act the lies. (You must replace lies with TRUTH)
- Practice the daily exercise of reading and confessing the statements of TRUTH (affirmations) concerning your life and future.
WRAP UP:
5 Things You Should KNOW About You
- You are made in His image and likeness
- You are His workmanship, and He does ALL things well
- No matter what you have been through, or where you find yourself in this moment, you still have value, worth, and a destiny that is yours for the taking
- God has not changed His mind about WHO you are
- Your past does not DEFINE you; it simply provides you the platform from which you can BE who you really are
If you’d like to comment in this episode, please go to BrianHolmes.com, go to the show notes for this episode and scroll down to the comments section. I would love to hear from you—comment, question, or whatever.
Next Week:
Next week, I will be talking about, ‘The Power of Your Mind’.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show.
On this episode, we will be continuing to talk about 7 Steps To Mastering Time. Time is something we all deal with, yet never really think about. Time is not simply a mechanism of measurement, time is a subservient entity that is to be used to our benefit. The dictionary defines time as follows:
- The system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.
- The duration regarded as belonging to the present life as distinct from the life to come or from ‘eternity’: finite duration
- A system or method of measuring or reckoning the passage of time
- A limited period or interval, as between two successive events: a long time.
- A particular period considered as distinct from other periods: Youth is the best time of life.
Seven Principles/Facts About Time
- Time is created
Genesis 1:5 – God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Genesis 1:14 – Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;
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Time is a currency
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We SPEND time,
- We SAVE time
- We INVEST time
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We WASTE time
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Time Continues; You cannot stop it
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Only once in history has there been a moment when ‘time stood still’. It was when Joshua commanded it under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
- The sun did not stand still, the earth did.
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God gave man an exceptional authority to command the earth (man’s domain).
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Time is measurable
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24 hours in a day
- 1440 minutes in a day
- 10,080 minutes in a week
- 7 days a week
- 365 days per year
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70 years of productive life equals:
- 25,550 days
- 613,200 hours
- 36,792,000 minutes
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My Time Has a End
Psalm 39:4-5
4 “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. 5 “Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.
- Time Must Be Stewarded and Managed
Ephesians 5:15-17 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you. –Carl Sandburg
I must govern the clock, not be governed by it. – Golda Meir
- There is a Time for EVERYTHING
With this backdrop, I want to instruct you on some key ways to more effectively manage and utilize time. To begin with, I want to submit a few pre-suppositions that I believe must be understood if we are to handle time with respect and use it wisely:
REMEMBER, Time is a currency
- We trade IT for something we deem of value (money, relationship, entertainment, education, etc.)
- In order to determine if what we are trading our time for is of equal or greater value, one must honestly assess the ‘VALUE’ he/she is gaining from the trade off
- In other words, is my RETURN ON INVESTMENT worth the time I am trading
- Time only produces what I invest in
- My life is a product of how I spend my TIME
7 Steps To More Effective Time Management
Know Thyself
- Who am I – What am I here to accomplish
- What is important to ME – What Matters Most
Have A Clear Vision
- Are you just biding time?
- Are you just hoping something happens?
- Have you formed a clear vision of what the end result looks like?
- What am I actually trying to achieve?
Be Goal Oriented
- Set Goals
- Set Deadlines (timelines) for your goals
- Don’t just DO things … do things that have meaning
- Start with the END in mind
Identify Time Wasters (Use Time Inventory)
DOWNLOAD TIME INVENTORY HERE
- People
- Tasks
- Habits
- Phone calls
- Texting
- Social media
- Internet/Meaningless web surfing
- Perpetual Planning
- Television (It’s fiction, y’all!)
- Busy-work
- Etc.
Weekly and Daily Planning
- Plan your life based on VALUES ORIENTED CATEGORIES (Family, Spiritual, Career, Financial, Personal Development)
- Begin each week identifying the BIG ROCKS you should tackle; the most important goals and tasks
- Use the FUNNEL method
- Block Time for important tasks (Set appointments for tasks)
- Strategic tasks vs. Laundry lists
- Most people keep a running laundry lists of TO-DO items; most of which have no real meaning or significance to any vision or goal in life
- It is the VITAL FEW vs. the TRIVIAL MANY
- Schedule appointments for yourself
- PLAN your time, or your time will PLAN YOU
- Prioritize
Eliminate Distractions
- Stay focused
- Don’t take EVERY phone call. That’s why you have voicemail!
- Check E-Mails once or twice per day. Every time you hear, “You’ve got mail”, you feel as though you have to reply
- Don’t let someone else’s incompetence or issue become your immediate concern
- Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part…
- Train people to respect your time
- Communicate to your subordinates and co-workers what you expect from them
- There is no such thing as multi-tasking!
Learn To Say No
- Every time you say YES to something, you are saying NO to something else
- Every time you say NO, you are saying YES to something else
- Every time you say no to spending your time one way, you’re saying yes to spending it a different way.
- This could mean working on that side project you have going, spending more time with your kids, getting away from your computer, or launching that startup you’ve been dreaming about.
- The trick to figuring out what to say no to is understanding your priorities.
- Your action is an expression of your priorities
- If you take a look how you spend your time during the average day, you’ll likely see a disconnect between your deeply held priorities and your actions.
- It’s important to write down what you truly want to achieve and then arrange your actions to achieve those goals over your lifetime.
- Once you’ve written down your goals, the next step is saying no to everything that distracts from those goals.
It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about? – Henry David Thoreau
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER:
- Where are you WASTING time?
- Where are you SPENDING your time?
- Where can you better invest time?
- Have you examined your priorities lately, and are you LIVING them?
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
In this episode, I am pleased to bring you an interview with my friend and colleague, Cliff Ravenscraft. Cliff and I met in early 2012, and have developed a strong and meaningful relationship, one that I am immensely grateful to have in my life. As you will learn, Cliff is known all over the world as The Podcast Answerman. He is, in fact, responsible for helping me over the last year to train, prepare, and launch the Strategic Living Podcast. His story, his big heart, and his incredible generosity have touched the lives of countless thousands. It is an honor to call him friend, and a real pleasure to welcome him to the show!
Cliff’s Bio:
Cliff Ravenscraft is the founder of The Podcast Mastermind and gspn.tv (Generally Speaking Production Network). Together with his wife and a few close friends, Cliff has produced over 3,000 podcast episodes, since December 2005, devoted to Entertainment, Family, Faith, Fitness, Career and Technology.
In January 2008, Cliff left a very successful career as an insurance agent, to pursue podcasting full-time. He felt called spend his life serving the community that had formed around the many shows in his network. Being a husband and father of three, he needed to find a way to produce content, serve his community, and also provide for his family. Cliff focused on successfully generating income through coaching/consulting at PodcastAnswerMan.com. He has helped thousands of individuals and organizations launch successful podcasts though his one-on-one consulting/coaching and through his online training courses.
For more information Cliff’s work, please visit his website at PodcastAnswerman.com
In this episode, we continue talking about ‘Personal Discipline and the Art of Doing’.
- Do you find it difficult to engage or take action on your dreams?
- Is it hard for you to ‘PULL THE TRIGGER’, take the risk, and go after your preferred future?
- Are you waiting on God to show up and do something for you?
- Do you find yourself dreaming or planning, only to allow fear to paralyze you from ACT and DO?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this podcast is for you!
Scriptural Principle:
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” ~ James 2:17-18
Personal Discipline
We cannot travel without until we are willing to first travel within. Someone once said, “When we are foolish we want to conquer the world. When we are wise, we want to conquer ourselves”. You see, personal mastery, (and personal responsibility) are paramount to our success. Many times we look outside of ourselves, wanting to place blame and responsibility for our present condition on someone, or something, else. The truth is this. If you could kick the person responsible for MOST of your troubles, you would not be able to sit down for weeks!
The truth is that each of us are responsible for WHERE we are today, as well as HOW we got here! Our life TODAY is a result of the choices we have made, and the actions (or inaction) we have taken along the way. What you are going to BE tomorrow, you are becoming today! You WILL BE whatever your choices are directing you to be. We need personal discipline.
Personal discipline is SELF-CONTROL. It is the ability to manage or RULE yourself FIRST. Personal discipline or SELF-CONTROL comes from the root word meaning, “to grip” OR “to take hold of”. Aristotle used this word to describe “the ability to test desire by reason…to be resolute and ever in readiness.” He explained that people who are not controlled have strong desires which try to seduce them away from reason, thereby sabotaging their success.
The Bible tells us that where there is no VISION, the people are ‘unrestrained’. Where there is no structure or order, there is no discipline. Where there is no discipline, there is no progress. Where there is no measured progress, there will be NO SUCCESS. Where there is no success, there is no joy or fulfillment.
The PRICE OF LEADERSHIP demands that we look inward FIRST, and deal with areas of indiscipline. We must know and acknowledge our weaknesses, so that we might address them and convert them to strengths through discipline. Personal discipline begins with personal responsibility.
The Art of Doing
One of the areas where we struggle with discipline is in the ‘DOING’. You see, we have become a culture of ‘try-ers’ and we have not many DOERS. Real transformation takes place when we decide to DO … to take action.
Real leadership is not accomplished in possessing good theory, or amassing great knowledge, but rather it is the result of putting one’s hand to the plow, and DOING whatever is necessary to get the job done.
What has God said about YOU? What has he asked of you? Are you stuck in the mindset of TRYING? To use the word TRY is to give ourselves an OUT, or an excuse to NOT DO. This may sound like a small distinction, but it has huge ramifications. My encouragement to you is this. It’s time to quit trying and just do it.
Here are three suggestions: (these come from Michael Hyatt’s blog post from December 2011 which can be found HERE.
1. Eliminate the word “try” from your vocabulary. It is a worthless word that accomplishes nothing. It only makes you feel better when you fail.
2. Decide either to do or not do. If you don’t want to do something fine. Don’t do it. But don’t pretend that trying is the same as doing. They are two completely different postures.
3. Commit 100 percent to the outcome you want. Like the project manager in Apollo 13 said, “Failure is not an option.” Play full out. Go for the win. Don’t settle for merely trying.
REMEMBER: “Try not! Do or do not. There is no try!
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
In this episode, we are continuing our conversation about ‘Dreams, Possibilities, and the Promise of Hope”.
It is our joy to bring you ‘Part 2’ our very first interview on the Strategic Living Podcast. My guest is Shuronda Scott. She is a speaker, an author, and a Certified Coach, and brings to the table a spectrum of expertise and experience that is sure to be a blessing to you. Again, this is PART 2 of our interview. Part 1 of this interview is available in Episode #006.
Shuronda Scott’s Bio:
Shuronda Scott is known as the Possibilities Coach. As an author, speaker and life coach, she combines over 25 years of corporate and ministry background experience in helping others recognize possibilities (within) and opportunities (without). Strategic and intuitive in her coaching, she is adept at taking personal and leadership development to the next level.
For over fifteen years, Shuronda served on the staff of a large multi-campus church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in various ministry roles including Director of Biblical Counseling and Women’s Leadership Development Director. She also has over fifteen years of corporate experience as a trainer and consultant.
No matter what her role, Shuronda is passionate about helping others realize the fullness of their dreams. In her recently released book, A Pocketful of Possibilities: Impossible Dreams, Made Possible, she shares how to remove the ashes that limit your potential and how to create your own roadmap of possibilities to take your dreams of the wait today!
She is also the founder of DreamCovery Ministries Intensive Weekend Encounters which helps individuals reconnect their dreams to their destiny. In addition to her speaking and ministry platform, she is a business owner who influences in many realms. She has been highly endorsed by pastors, business executives and community leaders alike.
For more information on her coaching or ministry or to schedule her to speak at your next event, visit her at www.walkinginpossibility.com.
A Pocketful of Possibilities: Impossible Dreams, Made Possible
We all have incredible dreams that God wants to fulfill. Maybe you have yet to see your dream come to pass. Maybe you stand at a crossroads and you feel your dream is dead. Don’t give up. In her book, A Pocketful of Possibilities, Shuronda shows us that our dreams are never discarded…they are only refined to bring God glory. Discover for yourself the amazing pocketful of possibilities God has for you to live in today!
Next Week
Next week, we will be bringing to you PART 2 of my interview with Shuronda Scott. We will continue our conversation about ‘Dreams, Possibilities, and the Promise of Hope”. You will NOT want to miss this episode.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
In this episode, we are talking about ‘Dreams, Possibilities, and the Promise of Hope”.
It is our joy to bring you our very first interview on the Strategic Living Podcast. My guest is Shuronda Scott. She is a speaker, an author, and a Certified Coach, and brings to the table a spectrum of expertise and experience that is sure to be a blessing to you. This is PART 1 of our interview. Part 2 will be made available next week in Episode #7.
Shuronda Scott’s Bio:
Shuronda Scott is known as the Possibilities Coach. As an author, speaker and life coach, she combines over 25 years of corporate and ministry background experience in helping others recognize possibilities (within) and opportunities (without). Strategic and intuitive in her coaching, she is adept at taking personal and leadership development to the next level.
For over fifteen years, Shuronda served on the staff of a large multi-campus church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in various ministry roles including Director of Biblical Counseling and Women’s Leadership Development Director. She also has over fifteen years of corporate experience as a trainer and consultant.
No matter what her role, Shuronda is passionate about helping others realize the fullness of their dreams. In her recently released book, A Pocketful of Possibilities: Impossible Dreams, Made Possible, she shares how to remove the ashes that limit your potential and how to create your own roadmap of possibilities to take your dreams of the wait today!
She is also the founder of DreamCovery Ministries Intensive Weekend Encounters which helps individuals reconnect their dreams to their destiny. In addition to her speaking and ministry platform, she is a business owner who influences in many realms. She has been highly endorsed by pastors, business executives and community leaders alike.
For more information on her coaching or ministry or to schedule her to speak at your next event, visit her at www.walkinginpossibility.com.
A Pocketful of Possibilities: Impossible Dreams, Made Possible
We all have incredible dreams that God wants to fulfill. Maybe you have yet to see your dream come to pass. Maybe you stand at a crossroads and you feel your dream is dead. Don’t give up. In her book, A Pocketful of Possibilities, Shuronda shows us that our dreams are never discarded…they are only refined to bring God glory. Discover for yourself the amazing pocketful of possibilities God has for you to live in today!
Next Week
Next week, we will be bringing to you PART 2 of my interview with Shuronda Scott. We will continue our conversation about ‘Dreams, Possibilities, and the Promise of Hope”. You will NOT want to miss this episode.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
In this episode, we continue talking about ‘Recognizing and Navigating Seasons of Transition’.
The truth is that change is inevitable. The question is, what will you do with change when it comes to you? You see, TRANSITION is something we will all experience in life. It is that place between the way things used to be and the way they are becoming. It is the blank page between two chapters in a book. It is unchartered territory. It’s not where you have been, and it is not the full expression of where you are going. It is the place called BETWEEN.
Scriptural Principle:
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:13-14
What is Transition?
The following excerpt was take from an article www.Therarive.com
In the simplest terms, transition is change. In a broader sense however, transitions are life’s way of asking us to reexamine our present way of being. These transitions can be predictable such as a child leaving for college or marriage, or they can be unpredictable, such as the sudden death of a loved one or a traumatic accident. Whatever the degree or intensity of the event, every transition we experience has one thing in common. It forces us to make changes to our existing life. And with change, comes resistance. A major life transition literally closes one chapter of our life, and starts a new one, putting us in a new place and direction that we have not walked before. It is often a very difficult adjustment as we endure intense feelings of fear, doubt, and uncertainty.
Transitions typically mark an ending followed by a time of self-reflection, which hopefully, leads to a new beginning or outlook on life. Every life transition asks us to let go of a past way of thinking or doing. By doing so, we are given the opportunity to replace the old way of being with something new. During the transitional period however, we usually feel uncomfortable, almost disconnected with our environment and even ourselves. While this is natural to some extent, if you can’t move through this phase, these feelings can often overwhelm you, sending you spinning out of control into emotional turmoil. Many times, people turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to numb the anxiety and stress of these transitional times. Admittedly, life isn’t always fair, but often the most good comes out what seems at the time to be a completely overwhelming experience. Whatever the transition, counseling with a professional counselor is an excellent opportunity to help you take stock of your life and move forward into your new beginning with less pain and resistance.
Transitions are difficult because we unconsciously or even consciously resist change. As humans it seems like every fiber of our being is innately programmed to resist anything new or unknown to us, most likely a result of our basic self-preservation instinct. Whether we realize it or not, even good changes can cause us to feel stressed and uneasy. On some level, we are simply not comfortable with the unknown.
Dealing With Transition
- There are countless ways we experience transition
- Some of these are small and easy; others monumental and extremely challenging
- Sometimes we find ourselves WAITING
- Last week, we mentioned a few of the areas one might experience this in
- Each of these general areas could have several transitions embedded within them
Irrespective of the GENRE of transition you may be experiencing, I want to give you some KEYS to navigating successfully through: These principles will help you recognize, identify, and properly steward the season, AND, yield the result that God intends for you to experience
“Change is inevitable, progress is optional.” – Tony Robbins
7 Keys For Successfully Navigating Through Seasons of Transition
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Learn to recognize when something’s season has come to an end
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Is there still passion, fulfillment, joy?
- Is what your doing fruitful?
- Is the relationship in question still mutually beneficial?
- Is where you are limiting your forward and upward progress?
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Etc.
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Embrace Change
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Grieve for a minute, but get excited about the new chapter
- Set your sites on what is AHEAD
- Know that CHANGE, properly handled produces growth and progress, which produces new opportunities and prosperity
3. Let Go of the Past
- Past hurts
- Past disappointments
- Past relationships
- Past failures
- Past trophies (previous season)
- Past wins
- Past Successes
- FORGIVE and RELEASE
4. Identify The Opportunities –
Our default is to focus on what HAS BEEN vs. What CAN BE
- New Relationships
- New Career/Business
- New Circles
- New levels of prosperity and wealth
- New ideas
5. Concentrate on Growth Areas
- What do I need to know?
- What resources do I need to pursue?
- What areas in my life require personal development?
- What new disciplines must I acquire?
6. Commit To Your Future
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
- Your next chapter is designed to be GREATER than the last
- Your tomorrow is destined to be far more prosperous and fulfilling than even your greatest years to date
- God has plans for you, and they are awesome
- Commit to yourself, and commit to your future
7. Trust In The Lord … He makes all things NEW!
- Walk with the Lord
- Listen to and follow His leadership
- Trust in His plans
- Know that He will never leave you or forsake you
- The past is behind you
- Your future is secure in Him
“Change is inevitable, progress is optional.” – Tony Robbins
NEXT WEEK
Next week I am excited to announce that we will be bringing you our very first interview, and we will be discussing ‘Dreams, Possibilities, and the promise of Hope”. You will NOT want to miss this episode, as I will be welcoming my guest, author, speaker, and life coach, Shuronda Scott
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
In this episode, I’ll be talking about ‘Recognizing and Navigating Seasons of Transition’. Transition is one of those things that many times causes people to become anxious, or even fearful. Leaving one place or state, and moving to another season or place is always difficult, and it involves letting go of what we have come to be so familiar with, and embracing something we know little or nothing about. It is the clean, white sheet of paper between two chapters; it is the story that is unfinished. This week we will dive into this subject, and look at what it means to successfully steward and navigate seasons of transition.
Scriptural Principles
13 … I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:13-14
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Main Content:
- Change is inevitable!
- 70% of people are wired in such away that they are adverse to change
- It is easier just to keep things ‘the way they’ve always been’
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Yet, life, even creation demands that there be seasons of change
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- Without a winter, we could never have a spring
- Without planting, we could never know the joy of harvest
- Without conception, we could never know the joy of children
- Without leaving one place, we could never know the excitement and adventure of discovering the new
We all love the freshness and life that comes with the new beginning, but few of us enjoy the process of letting go of the old, and even fewer the place IN BETWEEN. You see, we are creatures of habit; we are completely addicted to the comfortable and the safe. Our propensity is to be satisfied with the status quo, and to avoid at all costs the necessary changes required to realize true PROGRESS. It really is the quintessential catch 22. Stay comfortable and stay stuck; OR, pursue what is available to us, and deal with that which is unknown to us. The choice is entirely yours, BUT, to for-go the natural seasons of life, and to refuse to allow your life to organically move in the direction of destiny is to choose to die.
SEASONS: To everything there is an appointed time, and a season
When something’s season has come to an end, to continue living in that season’s grace will lead to frustration and even failure. So what is the answer.Recognizing and navigating TRANSITION.
Webster defines transition as …
- Passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another … Change
The key word that I want to focus on here is PASSAGE. You see, the starting point is already determined. The destination is also already determined (although you may not yet know where or what that is, yet. The process of PASSAGE is the critical piece.
Some Examples of Life Transitions:
- Graduating from high school
- In college
- Seeking first “real” job
- Newly married
- Starting a family
- Navigating a life changing event such as… unemployment, death in the family, divorce, or recovering from addiction
- Searching
- Mid-life restlessness
- Job burnout
- Starting a business or ministry
- Emptying the nest
- Approaching retirement or already there.
These, and so many others can be daunting, even debilitating seasons that bring a persons life to a screeching halt. How do we recognize, and even more importantly embrace the CHANGE? How do we fight the resistance that so naturally occurs when faced with a season of transition?
7 Challenges We Often Face When In A Season of Transition:
- Unwillingness to recognize or acknowledge the END of one season
- Inability to BURY the past (Abraham/Sarah)
- Fear of the Unknown
- Personal Worth/Esteem Issues
- Fear of Losing Relationships
- Developing the NEW Discipline of Dreaming Again
- Walking By Faith, and Not By Sight
A Poem For Guidance
Child of my love, fear not the unknown morrow, Dread not the new demand life makes of thee; Thy ignorance doth hold no cause for sorrow Since what thou knowest not is known of Me.
Thou canst not see the hidden meaning Of my command, but thou the light shall gain; Walk on in faith, upon My promise leaning, And AS THOU GOEST, all shall be made plain.
One step thou seest — then go forward boldly, One step is far enough for faith to see; Take that, and thy next duty shall be told thee, For STEP BY STEP thy Lord is leading thee.
Stand not in fear thy adversaries counting, Dare every peril, save to disobey; Thou shalt march on, all obstacles surmounting, for I the Strong, WILL OPEN UP THE WAY.
Wherefore go gladly to the task assigned thee, Having my promise, needing nothing more Than just to know, wher’er the future find thee, In all thy journeying I go BEFORE
NEXT WEEK:
Next week I’m going to continue unpacking this thought of ‘Recognizing and Navigating Seasons of Transition’. We will be sharing several key principles that will help you to navigate successfully through YOUR season of transition
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
In this episode, I’ll be talking about ‘How To Discover Your ONE Thing’. People spend their entire lives doing everything; living to impress and please other; striving to make a living; most never find that LANE where true happiness and fulfillment is. What if you could zero in on your true God given destiny? What is it that you were designed for?
I like to call this your ONE THING
“I know the plans I have for you … (Jeremiah 29:11 – Paraphrased)
- Plans to prosper you
- Plans for good health
- Plans to enlarge you
- Plans to expand you
- Plans for your children
- Plans for your business
- Plans for your ministry
- Plans for your dreams
Premise #1: God Has Plans Premise #2: His plans are for my SUCCESS Premise #3: Life is a Choice
Strategic Living: The vigorous and free flowing pursuit of being alive, while actively crafting and working with dreams, plans, stratagems, methods, and acquired skills to achieve a pre-determined result.
- Strategic Living is knowing God’s plan, and living it!
- Strategic Living is not happenstance or hopeful randomness
- Strategic Living is not flying by the seat of the pants
- Strategic Living is not the repetition of purposeless activity
- Strategic Living is the process and procedure of manifesting the plans of God through intentional and systematic movement
- Strategic Living is the substance of managing and stewarding my God-given potential
- Strategic Living is INTENTIONAL LIVING!
The Process of Building a Strategic Life, and Finding Your ONE Thing
- Self-Discovery (Purpose and Values)
- Visioning (Vision, Roles, Mission)
- Strategic Planning (The How; the plans, the steps)
- Personal Preparation (Acquiring Resources, skills, knowledge)
- Implementation (Start; Do; Accomplish; Fulfill)
- Strategic Living (Enjoying the life God intended)
There are MANY teachings or schools of thought on the subjects of DESTINY and PURPOSE. While most people understand the idea of purpose (or even destiny), for the most part, it is theoretical and has not been applied or expressed in real life. For the purposes of this teaching, there is a distinct difference between destiny and purpose; although they are both integral parts of what makes up my ONE THING. Let me explain.
Destiny Defined
Destiny: something to which a person or thing is destined
- Destiny, then, is that which I have been destined to
- What does it mean to be destined?
Destine: to decree beforehand: predetermine; to designate, assign, or dedicate in advance; to direct, devise, or set apart for a specific purpose or place
- In order for someone to receive a DESTINY or to be DESTINED, someone else has to DESTINE them
- In other words, Someone with the power and authority to do so must decree, pre-determine, assign, direct, and set me apart for a specific identity and purpose
- I do not DESTINE myself, I walk in and towards my destiny
Destination: the purpose for which something is destined; an act of appointing, setting aside for a purpose, or predetermining; a place to which one is journeying or to which something is sent.
- Destination is not just WHERE I am going; it is the realization of WHO I am, and WHO God has called be to be
- The Destination is the PURPOSE that provides me my identity
- It is my ONE THING
Purpose Defined
- The reason for which something exists or is done, made, used.
- An intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
- Determination; resoluteness.
- The subject in hand; the point at issue.
- Practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.
Understanding Purpose and Destiny:
- Purpose speaks to the REASON why one exists
- Destiny speaks to the pre-determined RESULT one’s life is to produce
- Purpose speaks to the WHO and the WHY
- Destiny speaks to the WHAT and the WHERE
- My ultimate purpose is to BE who God called me to be, and to DO precisely what God called me to DO
- My ultimate destiny is to finish (and fully accomplish) the assignments, objectives, and overall plans God pre-determined before time
Discovering your ONE THING Involves Several Key Steps:
- Identifying and owning your personal, core, governing values
- Identifying and owning your driving passions
- Identifying your talents, skills, abilities
- Discovering the common connecting points in these areas
Example from my own personal process:
Step 1: List the top TEN core values that you have identified
- Authenticity
- Faith
- Leadership
- Personal Growth/Mastery
- Healing
- Family
- Fulfillment
- Prosperity
- Relationships
- Generosity
Step 2: List the top FIVE passions in your life.
- Teaching/Training
- Facilitating Healing Processes
- Travel/Flying
- Learning New Things
- Generating Content and Corresponding Revenue Streams
Step 3. Perform an assessment of your talents, skills, abilities
- Communication
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Compassion and empathy
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Technical acumen (able to pick up on things quickly)
Step 4. Discover the common connecting points in these areas
- Consulting
- Coaching
- Public Speaking
- Podcasting
- Teaching
- Writing
- Etc.
YOU SAY:
-
What difference does it make what my ONE THING is, it won’t put food on the table
-
EXAMPLE: My love for flying (as a boy and now)
-
Well, Brian, my parents taught me to go to college, get my degree, get a good job, and just be grateful that I have a job
-
OR … you know, in today’s economy, I am just grateful to have a paycheck
-
WRONG!!!
-
Why should I live my life in survival mode? Why should I give up on my dreams, my desires, my destiny, my ONE THING?
-
Why should I SETTLE for a miserable existence, and the plight of living my life for someone else’s dream?
My Challenge To You:
- You are created for a purpose.
- You have a distinct lane that God has designed for you.
- You DO NOT have to simply exist, or get by, or maintain
- You can tap into the greatness that is already present within you
- You can FIND the ONE THING
- You can design your life around that
- You will impact your world when you engage what God has uniquely created you to be and do
What Is Your ONE THING?
NEXT WEEK:
- Next week I’m going to be talking about ‘Recognizing and Navigating Seasons of Transition’. Transition is one of those things that many times causes people to become anxious, or even fearful. Leaving one place or state, and moving to another season or place is difficult. It involves letting go of what we have come to be so familiar with, and embracing something we know little or nothing about. It is the clean, white sheet of paper between two chapters; and the story is unfinished. Know this. How you leave one place determines how you enter the next. Next week we will dive into this subject, and look at what it means to successfully steward and navigate seasons of transition.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS PODCAST:
Books:
48 Days To The Work You Love – by Dan Miller
The One Thing – by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
Websites and Videos:
Dan Miller – 48Days.com
City Slickers Clip – ‘One Thing’
Created man:
- We are made in the image and likeness of God
- We possess His nature, His qualities, His essence
- He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- We are Spirit, Soul, and Body
For us to function in life at 100%, it is imperative that our WHOLE man be in good working order. In other words, our spirit, our soul, and our body must each be healthy and prospering in order for our life to prosper.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. – I Thes. 5.23
In this episode, I am talking about the SOUL of man.
What is the SOUL?
Our soul is the part of us that contains our will, our emotions, memories, core/root beliefs, and our thoughts. It is the place where memories are kept—good and bad. It is the place where wounds, hurts, disappointments, fears, and our sense of failures are contained. These in turn, control the course of our mind and produce corresponding actions, decisions, attitudes, pre-suppositions, etc.
- What I carry in this compartment GOVERNS my thoughts, actions, decisions, etc.”
- The SOUL is the WOMB
- It is the carrier and nurturer of SEED
- Therefore, my life will LOOK LIKE the contents and context of my soulish arena
- It is the SOUL, when not whole, causes us ill effects as long as they are undiscovered, unaddressed, and not broken.
Factors That Shape the Mind and Heart (or SOUL) of Man:
- As we discuss this list, I ask that you consider this
- Our SOUL contains ALL the information received by my senses, and that received by feeling and perceiving.
- What I experience, whether real or perceived, is retained on the hard-drive of my mind, and affects the short and long term health of the soul
- My experiences are real
- My perceptions of these experiences form my thoughts
- My thoughts form my beliefs
- My beliefs form the patterns of behavior
- These patterns of behavior produce and ultimately determine the quality and fruit of my life
- The quality of fruit in my life AFFIRMS what I already believe, good or bad
- As affirmation occurs, the pattern/cycle starts all over again
-
Here are some examples of factors that shape us …
-
- Pre-Natal Memories
- Childhood Trauma
- Childhood Memories
- Rape
- Molestation
- Premature Sexual exposure or experience
- Observed/Perceived Behaviors and Truths
- Learning Deficiencies
- Self-Esteem formation
- Absentee Father
- Absentee Mother
- Deficient Father/Mother Relationships
- Domineering Mother
- Unhealthy Parental Philosophy and Indoctrination
- Absence of parental involvement, influence or mentoring
- Deficient Models for healthy relationships
- Cultural Environments
- Social Environments
- Abandonment
- Rejection
- Absence of Affirmation and Praise
- Overt Criticism
- Hurtful Words
- Failure/Mistakes
- Embarrassment or Shame
- Faulty image of God as Father
- Religious legalism
- Religious Teaching
- Authority Abuse
- Manipulation and Control
- Etc.
All these factors, (and so many others), can greatly affect the condition of one’s soul. These things shape …
- Our Emotions
- Our feelings
- Our Beliefs
- Our Guiding Philosophies of Life
- Our Process Orientation
- How we see life
- How we see ourselves
- How we see others
- How we view relationshipsHow we handle conflict
- Etc.
These are all SOUL matters –
They GOVERN our lives
They LIMIT our performance
They STEER our relationships
They CONTROL our emotional state
They SHAPE our worldview
Proverbs 23.7 – “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he …”
What I hold to be true in my heart and soul, whether true or not, becomes the governing factor in my life. If I believe I am used goods, I am used goods. If I believe I am worthless, I will behave and act like I am worth (less). If I believe that I cannot trust people, I will not trust, even if the person I am in relationship with is trustworthy. If I believe that I will always be poor, then no matter how much Ii want to be prosperous, I will always find a way to remain poor.
The Soul is the Key!
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. – III John 2
It is impossible to erase the WHAT’s that have happened. It is impossible to erase the WHO’s we have come in contact with. It is NOT, however, impossible to have the WHAT’S healed, and the effects of the WHO’S severed and disconnected. Our journey is our journey; we only arrive at a lesser destination if we stop traveling before we get ‘THERE’. Many of us have experienced some of the things we have mentioned here tonight. Because of this, the progress and productivity of our lives have been less than our potential mandates. The SOUL is the key to prosperity, and your SOUL can be healed.
QUESTIONS:
- Take some time for honest reflection concerning your life.
- Where has your soul been wounded, and your beliefs limited?
- Do any of the areas we mentioned in this episode apply to you?
- Are you willing to deal with the hurts and disappointments of your past?
- If so, are you ready to give those to God?
RESOURCES:
Book:
The Ties That Bind
Blog Posts:
Healing The Broken Soul – Part 1 Healing The Broken Soul – Part 2
NEXT WEEK:
-
Next week I’m going to be talking about ‘How To Discover Your ONE Thing’
-
People spend their entire lives doing everything; living to impress and please other; striving to make a living; most never find that LANE where true happiness and fulfillment is
-
What if you could zero in on your true God given destiny?
-
What is it that you were designed for?
-
If you inventory your life (passions, dreams, talents, desires), what do those things point to?
-
I like to call this your ONE THING
-
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
How can you join the conversation and be a part?
- Subscribe to our updates at www.BrianHolmes.com
- Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, Blackberry, Zune, or other services.
- Share this with your friends and associates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.
- Leave your comments (bottom of this post) and dialogue with others as they work towards their own freedom and development
“Welcome everyone to the FIRST EVER episode of ‘Strategic Living’. My name is Brian Holmes, and it is a joy to have you join us on this, our maiden voyage into the podcasting world! This podcast is all about ‘Transforming Minds, Developing Leaders, and Changing Nations’.
In this initial episode, we provide you with an introduction to the Strategic Living Podcast. Be sure to click the ‘Continue Reading’ link for complete show notes to this episode.
A little about me
- Married to Sabrina Holmes for 24 years
- We have two amazing children; Christian, who is 18 and Abigail, who is 15
- Christian has just recently graduated high school and will be attending Hardin-Simmons University in the Fall of 2013
- I recently posted about my son and our journey with him at brianholmes.com/christian
- I am an Author, Speaker, Pastor, Personal Development Coach, Business Consultant
- I have traveled to 18 countries in the last 17 years teaching leaders, sharing the message of healing the broken soul, and activating men and women into their full potential
- For more information on Brian Holmes International, please see the About Us page
My story
For a more detailed account of my story, I invite you to check out the blog post series entitled ‘Healing The Broken Soul’. at the recording of this podcast, I have published Part One and Part Two in this series. More to come…
In this Episode, I mentioned a training experience that Sabrina and I attended that completely changed our lives forever. To this day, we are referring individuals to this program, as we believe in what it can do for a person who is willing to apply themselves and receive healing.
There are TWO companies that provide a very similar training experience. Both are in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area:
- Pathways
- SOS at Zac’s Ridge
Our Work
- Ties That Bind (Book, Curriculum, Online Study Programs)
- Strategic Living Institute (A 40-week Life Development Program)
- Life, Executive, and Leadership Coaching
- Coaching Certification Training
- Speaking
The Podcast
- We want to engage with you concerning YOUR life; your destiny; your purpose
- So many people have he desire to succeed and fulfill their purpose, but they struggle with knowing WHO they really are
- They grapple with the pain and hurt of the past
- They are bound by guilt, shame, limiting beliefs
- They long to be free and to become what God intended, but they just don’t know where to begin
- That is what this PODCAST is about
- I want to come into your world; come along side; provide you with information, inspiration, tools that lead to transformation, and ultimately activation
- My desire is to make some contribution in your life that will make a difference
- There is something powerful that God intends for you to be; something significant that only you can do
- Whatever is holding you back; whatever discoveries need to be made; whatever healing needs to take place …
- This podcast is a resource that I believe will help you in that process
The Strategic Living Podcast will feature not only powerful content, but will also serve as a means of connecting our audience to other leaders in the areas of healing, personal transformation, leadership development, and success motivation. It is my goal that this program be your greatest resource for personal transformation and development. Our desire is to build a community of individuals who are dedicated to becoming all God has intended them to be, and who are willing to help others do the same.
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” – Proverbs 27:17
Here are a few things you can look forward to:
- Teaching segments
- Interviews with great leaders and experts in the field of ‘Strategic Living’
- Your questions being answered ‘on-the-air’
- Free tools and resources for our subscribed listeners
- Webinars and other learning/growth opportunities
- And so much more!
How can you join the conversation and be a part?
- Subscribe to our updates at www.BrianHolmes.com
- Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, Blackberry, Zune, or other services.
- Share this with your friends and associates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.
- Leave your comments (bottom of this post) and dialogue with others as they work towards their own freedom and development